Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that Nigeria’s struggles are due to a lack of quality leadership, rather than inherent difficulties in governing the country.
He made this statement at a recent memorial lecture in honor of the late Akintola Williams, organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Lagos.
Obasanjo highlighted his administration’s achievements, including securing debt relief and building up the nation’s financial reserves. “When I assumed office, Nigeria had just N3.7 billion in reserves, and we were spending N3.5 billion to service debt,” he recalled. “I knew we needed debt relief, and we achieved it. By the time I left office, we had over N25 billion saved in what we called ‘excess crude,’ and our reserves had grown to over N45 billion.”
He also paid tribute to the late Akintola Williams, describing him as a wise and dedicated public servant who made significant contributions to Nigeria’s political, social, and economic spheres.
