Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s persistent challenges are rooted in poor leadership, not flaws in the constitution.
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In a letter delivered on Wednesday at the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy held in Abuja, Obasanjo emphasized that the central problem lies in the character and conduct of those entrusted with enforcing and interpreting the constitution.
The letter, addressed to Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman of the Summit, argued that while constitutional reform is often discussed, what truly matters is the caliber of leaders implementing its provisions.
“From my experience, the constitution no matter how perfect or flawed is only as good as the people enforcing it,” Obasanjo wrote. “My focus remains not on replacing the constitution, but on ensuring that the people in charge of upholding it are competent and patriotic.”
The former president, who governed Nigeria under both military and civilian regimes, noted that while certain sections of the constitution might require amendment, the real threat to the nation’s progress is the abuse of power and misgovernance by public officials.
He warned that even the most carefully drafted legal framework can be twisted or undermined by leaders lacking integrity, compassion, or vision.
According to Obasanjo, the Nigerian constitution should be treated with deep respect, as it is meant to reflect the country’s identity, history, and collective aspirations. But without responsible and accountable leadership, constitutional reforms alone will not solve Nigeria’s problems.
“No matter how many times we rewrite the constitution, if the same selfish, corrupt, and lawless individuals continue to operate it as they have in the last fifteen years, nothing will change,” he warned.
He urged the nation to prioritize competent leadership, asserting that true constitutional reforms—those that genuinely reflect the will of the people—can only be achieved when Nigeria has leaders who are committed to inclusive governance and national development.
“At this critical moment, the focus must be on those who manage the constitution,” Obasanjo said. “When we have the right leaders in place, they will deliver constitutional reforms that truly reflect the needs of all Nigerians and help every citizen feel valued in the Nigerian project.”
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