Obasanjo reflects on imprisonment, civil war decisions at 89th birthday colloquium

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said his imprisonment under the late military ruler Sani Abacha stands as evidence of the price leaders may pay for taking principled positions.

Obasanjo made the disclosure in a keynote address at an international colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World,” held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as part of activities marking his 89th birthday.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the elder statesman described leadership as both a heavy burden and a profound blessing, shaped by decades of military command, imprisonment, and democratic governance.

Reflecting on pivotal moments that defined his leadership journey, Obasanjo recalled his tenure as Commander of the Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War.

He noted that leadership often requires solitary decisions with far-reaching consequences, adding that in the final days of the war in 1970, he chose restraint to prevent further civilian casualties — a decision he said illustrated the moral weight leaders must bear.

Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and later as civilian President from 1999 to 2007, stated that the public frequently underestimates the personal sacrifices associated with leadership.

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He cited his incarceration during Abacha’s regime as a stark example of the cost that can accompany standing by one’s convictions.

He also described as one of the most fulfilling moments of his career the peaceful transfer of power from military to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over to President Shehu Shagari — Nigeria’s first such transition.

On Africa’s development path, Obasanjo argued that the continent’s enduring challenges stem less from geography or history and more from governance shortcomings. According to him, Africa remains richly endowed with natural and human resources but continues to grapple with weak institutions, corruption, and self-serving leadership.

He called for greater investment in leadership development, institutional strengthening, and democratic accountability, stressing that sustainable progress depends on systems that outlast individuals.

The former President also urged African governments to engage more effectively with the global African diaspora, describing it as an underutilised asset capable of accelerating continental renewal.

Highlighting regional integration efforts, he pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as a transformative initiative that could expand markets, attract investment, and enhance Africa’s global competitiveness if fully implemented.

Obasanjo concluded his address with a message of gratitude and faith in Africa’s future, encouraging the next generation to embrace accountable and service-driven leadership.

“Africa is not a problem to be managed,” he said. “Africa is a promise to be fulfilled — and leadership is how that promise gets kept.”

The 89th birthday celebration is expected to conclude on Thursday with a distinguished lecture titled “The Global African Enlightenment: From Chains to Renaissance,” to be delivered by Ambassador Jean Robert Pillard, the Haitian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, followed by a reception for guests at the OOPL in Abeokuta.