By Ayo Alonge
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria needs unity for national development.
Obasanjo spoke at the Second Memorial Lecture for Prof. (Dr.) Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, held at the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Sanya, Lagos, yesterday.
“It is true that in getting a stable and robust nation state, some adjustments need to be made to minimise retrogression.
The strategy for minimising retrogression depends on the visionary leader. For national development, we require cohesiveness so that all the components in the system are focused on a singular direction that leads to people-oriented development.
A critical and sine qua non to good governance is leadership and that is why tremendous energy is continuously invested in leadership,” he said.
The former president also charged Nigerians on what he termed ‘politics-free’ welfare.
He said: “There are a few welfare responsibilities of the nation that should be politics-free, including education, justice and health. Appointments at the leadership levels should be based on competence, knowledge and experience. Any other consideration would be at best sub-optimal.”
Extolling the virtues of the late Fakeye, Obasanjo added: “Over the years, Prophet Fakeye had shown focused, credible, bold, sensitive and purposeful leadership, not just to members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church but to all Nigerians. He had been part of building the church in Nigeria and its eminent place in the church system in Nigeria today is not unrelated to his selfless service and leadership.”
Acknowledging the honour done to the family of the late Fakeye, Aanuoluwa Fakeye, daughter of the revered late clergyman, said: “On behalf of the family, I want to thank the Baba Olusegun Obasanjo and everyone else for the honour done to us as a family.
He (Fakeye) was a very humble man who embraced everybody, regardless of their background and belief. I want to encourage everybody to keep the legacy working.”