Chief Olusegun Obasanjo says the country’s youths are not doing enough to assume leadership positions adding that they are only waiting for dead men’s shoes.
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Obasnjo said this in his reply to the letter of former President of Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.
Agbakoba had lamented the dearth of young persons in leadership position in the country in his letter to the former president.
In his reply on Thursday, Obasanjo blamed the youths for the prevailing situation saying they failed to brace up and pick up the mantle of leadership.
The letter reads in part; “The modern history of Nigeria was shaped by young people. Your Excellency was 39 years when you became Head of State; Zik was 40 when he founded the NCNC; Awolowo was 43 when he became premier of Western Nigeria; Ahmady Bello was 40 when he co-founded the NPC; Ojukwu and Gowon were in their 30s when they took the centre stage in Nigerian politics.
“We demonstrated patriotism, selflessness and also acquitted ourselves creditably with our uncommon contributions to the socio-political development of Nigeria. My dear Olisa, it is sad that the successor generation of Nigerians have in most cases resorted to work avoidance in the quest for leadership.
”Most members of the younger generation of Nigerians are mostly contented with waiting for dead men’s shoes and are unwilling to beat an alternative path to leadership. ”In such a situation, it is to be expected and actually it is human that those with some head start in life will not concede such advantages freely and based on their innate goodness.”
