National development would not have been better achieved without a pivotal role played and being played by Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiolu, Obasanjo. 5 March 1937, Ibogun, Nigeria.
The highly-confident former president touched every aspect of Nigeria’s Nation’s development ranging from economic, political, security, peace and reconciliation, SMEs, Telecommunications, Anti-corruption, Banking reform, Power sector, Debt relief, Tax reforms, Democracy, freedom of the press, e.t.c,
A closer look at Nigeria’s development today would reveal that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo did not just lay the foundation, but he took an active part in nurturing them.
He gave licenses to telecommunication operators to roll out GSM sim cards for Nigerians thereby breaking the monopoly of NITEL The current tech development in Nigeria could not have been possible without GSM.
He established the EFCC and ICPC to fight institutional corruption which was very successful.
He established the Justice Oputa panel to reconcile Nigerians who were aggrieved and it helped in healing a lot of wounds.
Workers’ life after retirement would have remained uncertain if not for his establishment of the Pension Reform Act in 2004.
He privatized the power sector leading to the unbundling of NEPA into Generation companies, Transmission companies, and Distribution companies that we have today.
Under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), he recognized that small and medium enterprises are major contributors to the diversification of our economy, and a vital tool for the creation of wealth, poverty alleviation, employment generation, and rural development and as such created the Small and Medium Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN).
In 1977, he formed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), organized the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77), established the Egbin, Ughelli, and Afam thermal power stations; set up the Corrupt Practice Bureau; and through his government’s efforts, independence was achieved for Angola and later Zimbabwe.
He introduced the National Pledge to stoke up Nigerian nationalism and indigenized the lyrics of the national anthem. He set up the Constitution Drafting Committee and the Constituent Assembly; introduced the N20 currency in honor of his friend and predecessor, the Late General Murtala Muhammed, and introduced the controversial Land Use Decree on March 29, 1978. General Obasanjo also confirmed the movement of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja in accordance with the Murtala-Obasanjo policy program.
General Obasanjo was the first Head of State and Government on the African continent to ever relinquish power to a democratically elected government peacefully and voluntarily.
The single-mindedness and determination with which General Obasanjo kept to the Muhammed-Obasanjo administration’s word of handing over the reins of office to a democratically elected government and the zeal he deployed into executing the political program that terminated on October 1, 1979, impressed Nigerians and the international community at a time many military rulers elsewhere
Yekini Iskilu Ojo
1 comment
What a man of knowledge, wisdom and experience. Nigerians will never forget Him. He will forever be in our hearts and always be remembered for his good record.