Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned African leaders against overstaying in power, insisting that four years is enough to make a meaningful impact if leaders are focused, visionary, and service-driven.
Obasanjo, who spoke at a public dialogue, aligned himself with the position of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that transformative leadership does not depend on long tenure but on commitment to integrity and purposeful governance.
According to him, the continent’s biggest challenge is leaders who cling to power on the excuse that no one else can govern, a mindset he described as both dangerous and sinful.
“If the term is two years, serve two years and go. Another person will continue from where you stopped. Once you show exemplary leadership and a clear direction, nobody can change it. Some people believe that unless they are there, nobody else can lead. That is a sin against God. If God takes you away today, somebody else will come. That person may do better or worse, but leadership will not stop,” Obasanjo said.
The former president maintained that leadership is best exercised when leaders are still young, energetic, and dynamic. He recalled how some leaders remain in office even when age and health no longer allow them to perform optimally.
“The best of leadership is done when you are young, idealistic, vibrant, and dynamic. But some people continue even when they have passed their prime, telling you there is nobody else. That is not true,” he added.
Obasanjo explained that he left office as a military Head of State at 42, returned 20 years later as a civilian president at 62, and handed over again at 70. At 88, he still considers himself active and relevant, stressing that “there is life after State House.”
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Obasanjo Urges African Leaders Not to Overstay in Power
On democracy, Obasanjo said Africa must stop viewing credible elections as the sole measure of democratic progress. While recounting a conversation with former U.S. President George W. Bush Jr. about his daughter losing an election, Obasanjo noted that true democracy is about delivering dividends to the people.
“There’s a lot that should go into democracy before elections, and even more after elections. Democracy dividends must be felt by everybody. Nobody should be left out from benefiting from it,” he said.
He argued that one reason many African leaders overstay is fear of irrelevance after leaving office. To address this, he called on the African Union (AU) to create structured opportunities for former leaders, encouraging them to write memoirs, give lectures, mentor younger generations, and remain active in continental development without clinging to office.
To drive home his point, Obasanjo narrated how he intervened when a former president of Benin Republic was placed under house arrest. After unfruitful discussions with French officials, he contacted Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who secured the man’s release within 48 hours.
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Obasanjo concluded by urging African presidents, especially the younger ones, to view leadership as a short-term responsibility to serve, not a lifetime entitlement.
“Don’t overstay in power. Four years is enough to show your direction. Serve your people, step aside, and allow others to continue. There is life after State House, and sometimes it can be even more fulfilling,” he said.
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