Nigeria’s former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, has challenged politicians to take leadership development seriously, insisting that power should come with preparation and a sense of responsibility.

He made the remark while speaking at the Ajibosin Platform Symposium held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Addressing the audience on the theme “The Importance of Leadership in Governance,” Obasanjo decried the absence of structured mentorship in politics, comparing it unfavourably to other professions where guidance is part of growth. “Even armed robbers have apprentices,” he joked, to laughter from participants.

He argued that good governance rests on discipline, exposure, and moral integrity rather than the hunger for authority. According to him, “Leadership should never be a crash course learnt on the job. It must be built through consistent character and experience.”

Chidoka urges systems that outlive leaders

Delivering the keynote address, Osita Chidoka emphasised that Nigeria’s main challenge is not a lack of ideas but the failure to institutionalise leadership principles.

He called for stronger accountability systems that track promises, budgets, and outcomes.

Chidoka, who served in Obasanjo’s administration, said leadership should be measured by performance, not personality.

“Moral conviction must become visible in how institutions function, not in how eloquently we speak,” he said.

He encouraged leaders at all levels to stop giving excuses for failure and instead focus on measurable governance reforms. “Accountability is the true test of leadership,” Chidoka added.

Obasanjo explains why he once rejected El-Rufai’s nomination

In a lighter moment, Obasanjo recalled how he once turned down the idea of naming Nasir El-Rufai as his successor years ago, saying the former Kaduna governor needed time to grow into the demands of national leadership.

The suggestion, he said, was originally raised by Osita Chidoka, who at the time believed El-Rufai possessed the brilliance and drive for higher office.

Obasanjo, however, said he was not convinced then that El-Rufai had attained the level of maturity needed to manage a complex nation like Nigeria.

“When I said he needed to mature, people disagreed,” Obasanjo recounted. “But years later, even Chidoka came back to me and admitted I was right.”

His comment drew laughter and applause from the audience, including several dignitaries present at the event such as Senator Shuaibu Salis, Oba Saka Matemilola, and Mrs Olufunsho Amosun.