- Says there’s enough money to develop country if we’re serious
- Narrates how he secured funds to develop telecom sector
- Seeks robust economic ties among African countries
- No excuses, end banditry, Killings, Danjuma charges CDS Musa
Former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that there is enough money to develop the country if the government is ready to make the right decisions.
The ex-president said this on Tuesday during his speech at the book launch and ex-inaugural lecture of the immediate-past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, which was held at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
Speaking in relation to his key role in facilitating the evolution of telecommunications and information technology in Nigeria, Obasanjo explained that the country also had difficulty securing funding to develop its telephone infrastructure at the time of his administration.
“We have had all sorts of companies invited from America, from France, from Britain, and we did not get more than 500,000 lines. People had to queue at the telephone kiosks. And then the mobile telephone age came in.”
Obasanjo recounted the difficulties in setting up the early days of telecom in Nigeria, explaining that his administration at the time eventually concluded that the only way to attract foreign investors to the sector was to auction the telecommunications sector.
“So what we did was we auctioned it. And then the three that came in first paid $280 million. For something that was about to be given away for $3 million. And not only that, (because of auctioning) we achieved competition.
“Later on, we had a fourth (after MTN, Glo and now Airtel), Etisalat came last. When they came, I said, ‘The last auction we did was $280m. Etisalat, if you want a line, pay $450m.’ and they did. That is the way we got money to do what we did at the time. And that opportunity can still be made available. The money to develop Nigeria is out there. But that money will not come in unless we create a conducive atmosphere for that money to come in.
“What Nigeria has done in the good days when things were going well are still there and can still be done today, only if we put ourselves to it, if we are honest with ourselves, if we show the character and attributes, and the understanding and knowledge to make it to be the great country that God has created it to be. Nigeria is a land flowing with milk and honey, not a land of insecurity, and lack of prosperity, but a land where everybody can have enough for themselves.”
Obasanjo seeks robust economic ties among African countries
Also, Obasanjo has urged African countries to pool their resources together toward forming stronger pan-African economic ties.
Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at the commemoration of Angola’s National Founder and Hero’s Day 2024, marked annually on September 17.
The event was held to celebrate the legacy of Angola’s first President, Agostinho Neto who proclaimed the country’s independence on November 11, 1975.
The event, with the theme, “Pan-Africanism in the Political Course by Agostinho Neto”, was organised by the Embassy of Angola in Nigeria.
Obasanjo, in his address, highlighted various pan-African struggles.
Obasanjo, a former chairman of the African Union, AU, emphasized the importance of stronger economic ties for the growth of Africa.
“One of the things we have been doing is struggling for the economic emancipation of Africa but we have not done this too well.
“We should ask ourselves, why did we have a slave trade? It is because some nations want energy to develop their new world and make money.
“The slave trade was substituted with colonialism and then exploitation to develop other continents. We got others, but they are still withholding economic power.
“Economic pan-Africanism is what I believe we should now pay attention to which will lead to the economic liberation of Africa,” he emphasised.
The former Military Head of State and civilian president also praised the efforts of former Cuban President, Fidel Castro in the liberation of Angola, describing his work as significant.
According to him, the Nigerian government supported the Angolan government with financial aid worth $20 million in the fight for liberation.
The Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, José Zau, said Neto’s principles shaped the philosophy of the African brotherhood today.
According to him, the choice of Lagos for the commemorative event is significant due to the historical ties between late Neto and the city.
“It was here during the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo that Neto was honoured by the University of Lagos in the 1970s with the prestigious award of Doctor Honoris Causa.
“This award from the University of Lagos, associated with Neto’s political career made him an unavoidable figure in the history of political ideas in Angola and Africa,” Zau said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Olamide Adediro, reaffirmed the strong ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Nigeria and Angola.
He said Nigeria remained committed to deepening her partnership in the spirit of pan-Africanism as both nations worked together to address the challenges and realize the aspiration of Africa.
“Nigeria is proud to have played a part in supporting Angola’s independence struggle guided by the same ideals that have shaped our own journey.
“Neto’s vision of a united and self-reliant Africa is one we share with our Angolan brothers and sisters. The Liberation of Angola was not only a triumph for Angola but a victory for all African and the entire black race.”
No excuses, end banditry, Killings, TY Danjuma charges CDS Musa
In the same vein, a former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd), has charged military top brass led by the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, to end banditry and killings “as soon as possible.”
The octogenarian former army chief gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of a book titled, ‘Big Boots: Lessons From My Military Service’, authored by Maj Gen Solomon Udounwa (retd).
Addressing serving and retired military top brass including the current defence chief seated at the event, Danjuma said the onus rested on serving officers to end the menace of banditry and senseless killings by marauders all over the country.
The former COAS said, “We must end the banditry and the killings that are going on in our country as soon as possible.
“The responsibilities are on your shoulders; those of you who are still servicing. No excuses, absolutely no excuses. God bless you. God bless our country.”
In response, the defence chief said the Armed Forces won’t be deterred by the challenges confronting them in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
He assured Danjuma that the military won’t fail but bring the blood-sucking mongers called bandits to their knees.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is willing, dedicated and committed to ensuring that we restore peace and security in our own dear country.
“We shall not be deterred. I want to assure you that we have learnt so much from your records. We cannot afford to fail and we will not fail,” Gen Musa told Danjuma.
Nigeria’s North West and North Central geopolitical zones have been a hotbed of dark-hearted marauders known colloquially as bandits.
A recent report by security intel gathering firm SBM Intelligence showed that Nigerians paid ₦1.04bn as ransom to kidnappers in the last year.
The firm said its research found that within the period under review, no fewer than 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country.
“In that same period, kidnappers demanded at least the sum of ₦10,995,090,000 (approximately $6,871,931) as ransom but received ₦1,048,110,000, a mere 9.5% of the money demanded, indicating that kidnappers have become less targeted in their victimology.
“Of the 1,130 reported kidnapping cases, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have the highest numbers of incidents and victims. Zamfara recorded 132 incidents with 1,639 victims, Kaduna had 113 incidents with 1,113 victims, and Katsina reported 119 incidents with 887 victims,” the report stated.
The firm said on average, someone is killed each time there is an attempted kidnap.
