Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo says his imprisonment by the late military junta, Gen. Sanni Abacha, is proof of the cost associated with principled positions, describing leadership as both a heavy burden and a profound blessing.
Obasanjo made the remarks in a keynote address at an international colloquium titled, “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World” held as part of activities to mark his 89th birthday ceremony in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
A statement by the former president’s special assistant on media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Wednesday, said Obasanjo reflected on the important moments that shaped his understanding of power, responsibility and service.
Recalling his role as Commander of the Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War, Obasanjo said leadership often demands solitary decisions whose consequences affect millions.
He noted that, in the final days of the war in 1970, he chose restraint to prevent further civilian casualties, a decision he said underscored the moral weight leaders must carry.
He also described leadership as a rare privilege and an opportunity to serve at defining historical moments, referencing Nigeria’s first peaceful transfer of power from military to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over to President Shehu Shagari, as one of the most fulfilling decisions of his career.
He called for deeper investment in leadership formation, institutional strengthening and democratic accountability, stressing that sustainable progress depends on systems that outlast individuals.
Obasanjo also urged African governments to better engage the global African diaspora, describing it as an underutilised asset capable of accelerating continental renewal.