Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, joined influential Nigerians to make predictions and give messages for the New Year. He curiously advised Nigerians to tighten their belts for what he called a tight year.
"If we base the budget on $45 per barrel in the year 2009 and the prices of crude oil fall below $40, we don't need an oracle to tell us that we need to tighten our belts. That is the outlook for the world economically and it is not too bright because whatever affects the rest of the world will affect Africa and Nigeria," Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo did not stop at that. He equally told Nigerians to be "proactive and innovative" for the enhancement of revenue from other sources. The former leader also lamented dwindling investment in agriculture, and warned that another food crisis was imminent in the horizon if there was no change globally. "Five years away from now, unless something is done drastically, there will be food crisis that is monumental. It is preventable and there is no reason why we should make it happen."
But, many have criticized the prediction, which, they say is akin to what Obasanjo himself would easily describe as doomsday prophesy, in his days as the President. Besides, it might well take sometime before the Obasanjo's statement is well situated as his prediction runs contrary to what the current government has consistently told Nigerians.
The administration has repeatedly said that Nigeria is immune to the effect of the global economic meltdown. Also, the former President has been criticized for proffering solutions to things he never really considered, nor pursued vigorously when he had the opportunity as leader of the country.
Among the charges held against him is that in his last coming, Obasanjo busied himself with investment only in the service industrial sector, as well as supervising the devastation of the textile industry.
However, some Nigerians think they have had enough of unpleasant predictions, which started back in the 1970s, when Obasanjo was military head of state. He had then instituted "belt-tightening measures" for what he referred to as a better tomorrow, which never materialised.
Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, says Obasanjo should leave Nigerians alone since he had had more than his fair share at the apex of the nation's leadership and could not deliver. "We have had enough of him and his misrule. We don't need his advice. He mismanaged this country for eight years since 1999. We have had enough of him. He should let Nigerians be," Keyamo fumed.
An author, Army General, politician and farmer, Obasanjo, who schooled at Baptist High School, Abeokuta was born in 1937. He joined the Nigerian Army in 1958 and was in the Congo in the early 1960s on a peacekeeping mission with a Nigerian contingent.
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it is quite unfortunate that the Nigerian former president is airing his veiw on economic situation of Nigeria, especially on the area of agriculture. It is obvious that whoever sees His comments would reconcile it with his performance during his tenure. Now, the question is this: how can a man , a president who left the seat of power just one and half years ago will open his mouth and talk like that talkless of prediction of such. it shows that his government did not perform well, because if it has done well, the present economy will not be dancing towards gloom as he predicted. in essence, i am of the opinion that Obasanjo must be seriously Questioned, it is quite unfortunate that the present government is handicapped as a result of nigeria system, coupled with corruption. Obasanjo seems to be the biggest fool of the millenium; how on earth would someone who could not transform positive values into his governance open his idiot and callous mouth to predict doom for his country people. is he mocking the poor or is it that uptill now he has no remorse for all the problem he is posing on nigerian masses. Obasanjo is over 70 years of age but that age of his could not reconcile with his chidish behaviour. Imagine a man who made love to his son's wife, what sorts of nonsense would he not say. Nigeria will be innovative only when the corrupt politicians are gone for good. how could people be innovative when they cannot feed properly, or when those voted into power are now mocking their subjects.
This is in response to Chinalex33 comments? Concerning Mr Obasonjos prescription for a dooms day saga awaiting our beloved Nigeria. Maybe NFIU, SSS, and EFCC and the like of this kangaroos professing their anti-corruption, as if that's Nigeria's real problems.
They should focus on Obasonjo and his cohorts. This anti corruption frenzied people, simply created work for themselves while pretending to making themselves relevant to the dreams and aspirations of an average Nigerian, this is simply bullshit. The issue with Nigeria is a grass root fundamental ideological change. The poor people in Nigeria are not any different from the corruptly rich ones, they are both driven by the same string of insecurity, frustration, anxiety, ideological bankruptcy and inability to do for self and community. A a total lost of cultural identity. "A thief does not rob his own pocket" To begin to see any kind of progress in Nigeria, it does not matter how many corrupt little people you send to jail, it matters how many children we can feed and educate properly in the new original ideological philosophy in place for the new millennium of global economic and social interdependancy.
Without a profound change through propaganda machine and inductrinated cultural value system of self fulfillment in place, the matter will remain unabated, just like "Soldier come, soldier go. No hard feelings, just simple cold truth". Joe Ukonga
Our current "leader" is MIA again since the dawn of the New Year 2009 as he did when he checked himself into German (or is it Saudi Arabian) hospital but lied to the nation that he went to lesser hajj. Remember, the word, urgency never occurred to this dude during his first 577 days in office when the Nigerian economy never had it so good with crude oil price soaring to $147pb. At that fleeting moment, the Emperor failed to take advantage of the robust earnings to lead with wisdom but now that the economy is in doldrums the following is the Christmas messages opening remark of our outgoing Kleptocrat-In-Chief, thusly: the new year would be momentous in the area of critical reforms expected to launch the nation on the desired path of development. Who Is Fooling Who? When, in fact, President Yar has already accomplished his mission of turning Reformers into Pariahs. Incredible! Of course, the New Year will be momentous for Yar and his Kleptocracy. Why? Because the only action weve seen from his almost 2 years of visionless dictatorship is to dismantle, brick by brick all the accomplishments,(with no alternative vision of his to replace what he dismantled), of his predecessor thereby setting the country back another 2 decades. A President is supposed to be honest in calling it as it and in inspiring the nation to set a new resolute visionary agenda and courage in the face of looming global calamity to which Nigeria is not immune. Rather, Malam Yar went into hiding as usual hoping that this impending decline would just blow away. While his head is buried in the sand of denial, perhaps he could take the time to read these traits of a good leader 1) Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one. - Marcus Aurelius. 2) Courage - not complacency - is our need today. Leadership not salesmanship. - John F. Kennedy. 3) Honest - Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust. 4) Competent - Base your actions on reason and moral principles. Do not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or feelings. 5) Forward-looking - Set goals and have a vision of the future. The vision must be owned throughout the organization. Effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic values. 6) Inspiring - Display confidence in all that you do. By showing endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire others to reach for new heights. Take charge when necessary. 7) Intelligent - Read, study, and seek challenging assignments. 8) Fair-minded - Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others. 9) Broad-minded - Seek out diversity. 10) Courageous - Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress. 11) Straightforward - Use sound judgment to make good decisions at the right time. 12) Imaginative - Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative!
Perhaps, Yar is waiting for the whiteman and his Tonto to come tell him those same traits on Jan 20th for him to do what he already know but willingly deny himself.