31st December, 2012
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed optimism about the ability of the country to rank among the greatest in the world in the nearest future.
Obasanjo, who addressed newsmen in Abeokuta,capital of Nigerian state of Ogun, said it was wrong for anyone to write Nigeria off as the country is endowed with abundant natural resources and other potentials to make it great.
He said God had been extra generous to Nigeria, adding that “many nations of the world are not as richly endowed as Nigeria’’.
Obasanjo, who lamented poor management of the resources, however, urged Nigerian leaders to harness the country’s endowments for its transformation.
“God has been kind to us, we need to be kind to ourselves,’’ he said.
The former president urged Nigerians to continue to exercise hope and enduring faith over Nigeria, saying “ I know we will get there very soon.’’
Obasanjo was twice Nigeria’s leader, first as military head of state, 1976-1979. He returned 20 years after to head a post-military civilian regime between 1999 and 2007.
He is often criticized for not using his second leadership tenure to pursue policies that would have developed Nigeria. Instead, he was accused of spending resources in pursuing a third term agenda in the last two years of his administration.