As the 32nd Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) that ended in Abuja, the atmosphere in the conference hall had begun to settle. Delegates slowly filtered out after days of high-level discussions and diplomatic exchanges. But the mood shifted suddenly when a familiar figure walked in, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. Without fanfare or protocol, he made his way to the stage and delivered a striking message that captured the attention of everyone still present.
In his usual candid and forceful tone, Obasanjo wasted no time addressing the heart of Africa’s developmental challenges. “If we are going to take Africa seriously as a continent, there are key countries that must succeed, together,” he said. Obasanjo described these nations as “lions” capable of leading the rest of the continent forward, naming Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Africa, with a later addition of Kenya, Senegal, and Morocco.
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However, his message was not one of celebration but of disappointment. “These countries are not moving as they should—politically or economically,” he said. “And if the lions don’t move, the continent remains stagnant.” With a piercing gaze and voice filled with urgency, Obasanjo underscored the point that Africa’s progress cannot occur in isolation or without strategic leadership.
He argued that the relationship between governance and development is inseparable. “Politics is the master of economics. If you get politics wrong, nothing else will work,” he said. He emphasized the need for visionary leadership, strong institutions, and governance rooted in accountability and service. Obasanjo did not spare the continent’s longstanding dependence on external funding. “We have lived too long on aid. Is that the path Africa should continue to follow? We run to China for $20 billion, money one African country should be able to generate internally,” he said.
In the midst of his critical tone, he acknowledged one bright spot in Africa’s policy landscape, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). “It’s one of the few things we’ve gotten right in 20 years,” he said. But he cautioned that signing agreements alone was not enough. “We must build on it. Trade is not just about goods; it’s about ideas, people, and value chains.”
Obasanjo also raised hard questions about the structure and function of democracy across Africa. He questioned the suitability of adopting Western liberal democracy wholesale, pointing to how political systems on the continent have become corrupted by money and self-interest. “Our democracy today is no longer about the people, it’s about pockets,” he said. Drawing from his early years in a Yoruba village, he lamented the loss of leadership values based on integrity and communal trust. “If you have money, no one stops you. You buy your way in, even if you can’t be trusted.”
His comments, though impromptu, resonated deeply with the remaining delegates. Many described the moment as one of the most honest and needed interventions of the summit. Obasanjo’s challenge was not just directed at sitting presidents or policymakers, but at the entire system of governance and leadership in Africa. His parting message was clear: Africa’s future depends on courageous, cooperative leadership rooted in indigenous values, self-reliance, and political will.
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Obasanjo, now 88, remains one of the continent’s most influential voices. Over the past year, he has been increasingly visible on major continental platforms, lending his voice to debates on everything from education and democracy to regional integration and climate action. At a separate event in Addis Ababa earlier this year, he called for an African leadership summit that would bring together former presidents, sitting leaders, and the next generation of African thinkers to chart a unified agenda for the continent.
Though long out of office, his presence still commands attention. And on this day in Abuja, as the Afreximbank meetings drew to a close, Obasanjo reminded Africa that its path forward requires more than policy—it demands a transformation of values, vision, and leadership.
