By Bartholomew Madukwe

THE ex-President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has called on former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to intervene in the country’s politics for elder statesmen to give way to a young generation of leaders.

* Olisa Agbakoba

In a letter entitled Nigeria Needs a Generational Shift in Political Leadership, Agbakoba described Obasanjo as one of few past leaders with enough clout to galvanise the political elite to produce leaders such as Macron in France or a Trudeau in Canada.

He said: “I am concerned about the quality of leadership in Nigeria; corruption is endemic; poverty is high, life expectancy is low.

“Nigeria ranks poorly on all international human development indicators. Chinua Achebe, in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria, pointed out the situation is directly linked to failure of leadership.”

According to him, Nigeria is held back by a crop of leadership that has outlived its usefulness and effectiveness as a result of old age.

He said he was also convinced that with Obasanjo’s support, giving the young a chance can be expanded to become a policy of all political parties in Nigeria, adding that the country will benefit greatly.