Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday said his incarceration under the late military ruler Sani Abacha still stands as a powerful testament to the sacrifices that often accompany principled leadership.
Obasanjo made the remarks in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, while presenting a keynote address at an international colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World,” organised to commemorate his 89th birthday.
Looking back on his experiences in military leadership, imprisonment, and democratic governance, the elder statesman portrayed leadership as both a demanding responsibility and a significant privilege.
“My imprisonment proves the price of a principled stand. Leadership without principle is mere management. True leadership demands that you say no when yes would be more convenient — and that comes at a cost,” he said.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State between 1976 and 1979 and later as civilian President from 1999 to 2007, observed that many who seek power fail to grasp the depth of personal sacrifice genuine leadership requires.
Recalling his role as Commander of the Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War, he noted that leadership frequently calls for solitary decisions with far-reaching consequences.
“There is the loneliness of final decision. When all the briefings have been received and all arguments made, you alone must decide. That weight does not distribute itself,” he said.
He recounted that in the closing days of the civil war in January 1970, he chose restraint to avoid further civilian casualties.
“No textbook told me what to do. The decision was mine alone,” he stated, emphasising that the episode highlighted the moral responsibility leaders must bear.
“The greatest burden a man can carry is his country on his shoulders. The greatest blessing he can also receive is that country’s gratitude. At 89, I now understand that the burden and the blessing are often the same,” he added.
Despite enduring hardships, including three and a half years behind bars, Obasanjo maintained that he would still embrace a life of public service.
“There is the blessing of having been given the opportunity to matter — to serve at the hinge of history,” he said.
He described Nigeria’s first peaceful transfer of power from military to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over to Shehu Shagari, as one of the most rewarding moments of his public life.
“It was the relief of having been tested and not found wanting,” he noted.
Addressing Africa’s developmental path, Obasanjo contended that the continent’s enduring struggles are rooted more in governance shortcomings than in geography or historical factors.
“Africa is richly endowed — with mineral wealth, vast arable land and the world’s youngest population. By every measure, we should be prosperous and stable. Instead, too much of our continent remains trapped in preventable suffering,” he said.
He attributed the contradiction to ineffective leadership, fragile institutions, and corruption, cautioning against governance centred on individual personalities.
“When a country’s trajectory depends solely on the character of one person, that country is permanently fragile,” he warned.
Obasanjo urged a reassessment of democratic practice in Africa, encouraging leaders to tailor democratic models to local contexts while maintaining accountability, transparency, and inclusion.
He also called for stronger investment in leadership grooming and institutional capacity-building, stressing that lasting development depends on durable systems rather than individuals.
Describing the global African diaspora as a largely untapped resource, he encouraged governments to foster conditions that promote diaspora participation.
On regional cooperation, Obasanjo highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area as a potentially game-changing initiative capable of broadening markets, drawing investment, and boosting Africa’s competitiveness globally if fully realised.
In his concluding remarks, he expressed gratitude to God and reaffirmed confidence in Africa’s prospects, urging younger generations to commit to accountable and service-oriented leadership.
“Africa is not a problem to be managed,” he declared. “Africa is a promise to be fulfilled — and leadership is how that promise gets kept.”