Obasanjo reveals major factor responsible for Africa’s debt burden
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has said corruption and recklessness are responsible for some debts incurred by African countries.
“Some of the debts by African countries were due to recklessness and outright corruption,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said while responding to a question on the African’s staggering debts.
The former president spoke when hosting the youth under the aegis of Future Africa Leaders Foundation, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday.
He disclosed that his attitude of not keeping quiet on national and international issues led him to jail under the military junta of the late Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha in 1995.
The former president also stated that the quest to save Nigeria from an imminent disintegration made him seek the presidency in 1999, admitting that he had embraced farming after leaving the military service at the age of 42 in 1979.
Obasanjo was the country’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979.
He said, “I joined the army and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer, but, what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic. So, I took to agriculture and during that time, I went into prison and that was not what I really wanted.
“Going into prison was a challenge because I refuse to keep quiet. For me, if there is anything to comment on, I did comment on them, and so, I landed in prison, and that is a challenge.
“And, when I came out from prison, the situation was so bad in the country that some people felt the need to be saved and pressure started coming.”
