Many Nigerian leaders deserve jail - Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed deep concern over the integrity of Nigeria’s leaders, suggesting that many of those in public office deserve to be imprisoned.

He revealed this while speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a meeting with six members of the House of Representatives.

Obasanjo questioned the moral standing of current government officials. 

The lawmakers, who were co-sponsors of a bill advocating for a single six-year presidential term with rotation between the North and South, were led by Ugo Chinyere, the Chairman of the House standing Committee on Downstream Petroleum.

Obasanjo criticized the performance of successive governments, saying that they had failed to build on the foundation he laid during his time in office.

"Yes, the system is important, and we need to rethink our democracy," Obasanjo said. 

"But the character of the people in government must change. With all due respect, most of those in government today should be behind bars or on the gallows."

The former president argued that simply changing the term limits would not address the fundamental issues facing Nigeria. 

"Whether we have a single term of six years or two terms of four years, the key issue is that we must change our mentality," he stated. 

"If you give a leader a single term of six years, he can still do the same evil he would have done in two terms of four years. The difference is only in the duration."

Obasanjo emphasized that Nigeria’s problems go beyond the structure of its government. "Our main problem is ourselves," he concluded. 

"Until we address our own attitudes and behaviors, it won't matter whether we have a single term of six years or any other system. Nothing will change if we maintain the same mentality and approach."