Obasanjo, who ruled the country between 1976 and 1979 as a military head and between 1999 and 2007 as a civilian President, however, took responsibility for all his actions.
He spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State during the 50th anniversary lecture to commemorate the call to the Bar of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
A civil war veteran and former Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Commando Division, Nigeria Army, Gen. Alabi Isama (retd), had recently accused Obasanjo of committing numerous blunders during his reign in government.
Obasanjo said, "One mistake I made that turned out to be successful was when I was looking for somebody to give leadership of the University of Lagos to and I chose Babalola. Some people said I made a mistake but it turned out to be a successful mistake.
"My mistakes as people say were mostly in appointments. I appointed the UNILAG Pro-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor and the university became the best. The Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor that I appointed were acknowledged as the best at the time.
"The mother of all the mistakes was that the exposure and involvement of Babalola in the affairs of UNILAG led to the establishment of the Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti.
"If you have not seen 'instant wonder', go to ABUAD. Babalola used his experience as the Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG to build what today is the best and fast growing private university in the country."
Obasanjo, who inaugurated the extension of Babalola's Emmanuel Chambers on the occasion, said, "There are many Nigerians, but, there are not many good Nigerians of Babalola's sterling qualities."
Solicitor-General of the Federation, Ahmed Abdulahi, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, described Babalola as a product of courage, perseverance, determination and humility.
The Guest Speaker, retired Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, while delivering a lecture entitled, 'The future of Law in Nigeria', stressed the need to improve legal education in the country.
He said, "Our legal education should be re-invigorated and made more robust. For instance, we should begin to encourage inclusion of Comparative Law in every aspect of our legal education.
"We can only neglect the history of the principles of the common law at a disadvantage. Our law faculties should be fully equipped with the access to jurisprudence and decisions of other jurisdiction to protect our laws.
"We delude ourselves in this country if we believe that, we can be a great nation without a great legal system. The path to the greatness of our nation is through a reliable, efficient, trustworthy and value-driven legal system."
Former Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) described Babalola as a reformer, revolutionary and educationist who contributed to national and legal development.
Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and a former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni among other eminent personalities attended the ceremony.
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Nigerian leaders like other leaders in africa have their own mistakes. OBJ was very greedy (3rd Term)with power in his days as a leader,like other african leaders.
ReplyDeleteBut I respect him for he is a Nationalist, a Complete Nigerian, Not a Tribalist like many from his zone who are struggling to rule the nation with their Tribalistic Nature (Tinubu etc) To be a president in Nigeria you have to be a Complete Nigerian.
Let Oasanjo go to Bakassi and see the type of mistake people are talking about. Nigeria under him allowed a French judge to sit in a case between Nigeria and Camerou. The result is there for all to see. Nigerians have been turned into refugees in their country and Obasoanjo sit there saying he made good mistakes. No doubt the comfort of his Otta residence will not allow him see the damage he did to this country despite the opportunity to turn Nigeria into a much better have. May God help him and reward him according to hi good deeds and decisions.
ReplyDeleteexcellence sir we nigerias we know you try rest baba we day your back
ReplyDeleteI am not SURPRISED to HEAR such FOOLISH COMMENTS from a TIMID BABA IYABO.
ReplyDeleteHe handed PRESIDENCY to INCOMPETENT persons, ALLOWED his WIFE to UNSUCCESSFULLY "SURGICAL" her TOMMY, Have "canal knowledge" of his SON'S WIFE, Allow CAMEROUN to SUCCESSFULY CLAIM our BAKASSI, sent SOLDIERS to KILL INNOCENT people in ODI & ZAKIBIAM, yet he did NOTHING when BOKO HARAM formed their "AFGANISTAN" in NIGERIA.
COWARD! Always AFRAID of the "CABALS", yet he has the ENFRONTERY to tell his "VILLAGE CHIEFS" "I made SUCCESSFUL MISTAKES" SHAME on U, OLD MAN. Ur "TIME" will soon COME. RUBBISH!
EL-MATOSKY.
@ Emex good talk but who is the complete Nigerian?
ReplyDelete@Annonymous 9:09 Never you blame OBJ; if he had made mistake on Bakasi issue,it is not late yet, the present administration can still go to war which OBJ was avoiding.
Nigerians know better now with GEJ in 'power'
ReplyDeleteWho is competent obasanjo no do am well GEJ no do am well may be u go nomonate ur father to come and rule...... Make we see the outcome.....OBJ is still d best president
ReplyDelete