Olusegun Obasanjo

Ex-Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has frowned at the principle of regionalism, describing it as the underlying cause of Nigeria’s ongoing challenges.

According to him, where a leader comes from is irrelevant as long as they can bring in their skills and do well in governance.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 22, in Abeokuta during a visit by the League of Northern Democrats, Obasanjo lamented that the regionalism adopted at independence in 1960 continues to hinder the nation’s progress.

Addressing the group led by former Kano State governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Obasanjo emphasized that a leader’s origin should not matter, but rather their contributions to national development and governance.

“Where a leader hails from does not matter. Rather, what he brings to the table in terms of development and governance should matter,” Obasanjo said.

The former president also urged the group to adopt a more inclusive name, suggesting they become a “National League of Democrats” rather than a regional group focused on the North. He argued that Nigeria’s fixation on regional divisions—whether North, East, or West—has perpetuated the country’s problems.

“One of the things that led us to where we are today, and we haven’t gotten out of, is regionalism. Whenever I hear ‘North’, ‘East’ or ‘West’, I get frightened,” Obasanjo said.

While acknowledging the group’s concerns about Nigeria’s political landscape, Obasanjo stressed the importance of correcting these wrongs with a national outlook.