Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that both past and present leaders of Nigeria still have critical roles to play in ensuring that the country realises its full potential.
He made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of Being True to Myself, the autobiography of former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
Obasanjo, who wrote the foreword of the book, said the journey toward building a better Nigeria is far from over. “The Nigeria you and I worked for, we haven’t gotten there yet,” he remarked. “Our job is not finished until it is finished.”
Why I attended Lamido’s book launch — Obasanjo
The ex-president revealed that he initially thought his contribution to the book’s foreword was enough and did not plan to attend the event. However, Lamido persuaded him to show up.
“I thought that after I wrote the foreword to your magnificent book, you would have excused me from any further ordeal,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
“But being who you are, you got me here—even though I had to cut short my event abroad, where I was looking into the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”
How Lamido became Foreign Affairs Minister
Obasanjo also shared how Lamido was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister in 1999. According to him, the original nominee had declined the position, and Lamido was selected as a suitable alternative.
“I selected Sule Lamido because I saw him as the closest to the individual who had declined,” he said. He also recounted a witty exchange Lamido had with then British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, which left Cook unsure whether the Nigerian president was “a crazy fool or a very clever guy.”
A principled minister with integrity
The former president praised Lamido’s principled stance, recalling how he refused to submit an undated resignation letter—a practice Obasanjo requested from all his ministers.
“Sule said to me, ‘You appointed me; I didn’t ask you to. If you find me unworthy, just give me five minutes and I will resign,’” Obasanjo said, noting that he respected Lamido’s position and never had cause to ask for his resignation.
Obasanjo credited Lamido for playing a vital role in restoring Nigeria’s image on the international stage after years of military rule. As Foreign Minister, he said, Lamido was instrumental in re-establishing global confidence in Nigeria.
“Sule was our face to the world. He did a magnificent job,” he said.
“Within three years, the Queen of Britain came to Nigeria for CHOGM. That was a clear signal that Nigeria had been accepted again.”
Praise for Lamido’s tenure as governor
Reflecting on Lamido’s time as Governor of Jigawa State, Obasanjo noted his commitment to development and national engagement.
“He showed me what he was doing. We discussed not only state issues but also national and foreign affairs. I can say, without any shred of doubt, that Sule Lamido performed adequately as Governor,” he concluded.
