Bakare seeks inter-generational reintegration between older, younger generation
BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Former President of Nigeria and elder statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that one of the ways to rebuild Nigeria is for the country to have more rebels and individuals who can challenge the status quo when things are not going right.
The former president noted that anyone who has lived a life of integrity in the country is naturally a rebel.
Obasanjo made the comment on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while unveiling the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, titled “Footprints Of A Rebel.”
The book was unveiled as part of the 80th birthday celebration of former activist and elder statesman, Sowunmi.
The former President made it known that Nigeria needs more rebels who would speak the truth to power not minding whose ox is gored, adding that it was one of the greatest steps towards rebuilding Nigeria.
Obasanjo noted that for Nigeria to move forward, it required “more rebels” to stand and speak for the truth.
His words, “Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel, but it is good. The truth is that if you have to live a life of honesty and integrity, you have to become a rebel.
“There would be some time you would be asked to do something, but you would say no, this is not right. And when you say that you will become a rebel. You may even become a persona non grata. “This is our country; there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say ‘this is not right’, ‘this, I will not be part of’, ‘this is not good for Nigeria.”
Obasanjo lauded the octogenarian for leading “an exemplary life worthy of emulation by the younger generation.”
Earlier in a brief remark, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, had called for inter-generational reintegration between the older and younger generations to rebuild Nigeria.
Bakare spoke on the topic, ‘Worthy nation building legacies by the older generation of Nigerians’, said it was a shame that while the younger generations were taking over leadership in other countries, the older generation refused to leave the stage in Nigeria.
According to Bakare, the nation rebuilding development has suffered because of the marginalisation of the youth and the progressives, who abandoned politics.
He also blamed the nation’s challenges on those he called “moneybags and bullion van politicians.”
Bakare called for generational reintegration, beginning from the households, embracing of cultural values that foster nation building as well as mentoring and leadership development for the younger generation.