At the launch of Sule Lamido’s memoir, ‘Being True To Myself’ former President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a powerful message that combined humor, history, and hard truths about Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to meet its democratic and developmental aspirations.
In his address, Obasanjo praised the former Foreign Affairs Minister and ex-Governor of Jigawa State for his integrity, performance, and patriotism—but issued a clear challenge:
“The Nigeria you and I worked for—we haven’t gotten there yet. And I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure we reach the Nigeria of our dreams.”
Obasanjo revealed how Lamido defied his 1999 directive requiring ministers to submit undated resignation letters—a tool meant to ensure easy dismissal if necessary. Lamido boldly declined, stating: ““When I appointed the ministers—because I did not want a situation where a minister would do something wrong and I would want to say, ‘Look, Mr. Minister, thank you, you can go,’ and there would be problem—I said all my ministers should give me undated letters of resignation.”
“Sule Lamido came to me and said: ‘You appointed me. I did not ask you to appoint me. Do you think I will fall? Any day you find me unworthy of the assignment you have given me, give me five minutes, I will give you my letter of resignation. But please, excuse me from giving you an undated letter of resignation.’”
“I acceded to his request. And of course, he never had to give me a letter of resignation, and I had no cause to ask him for one.”
The former president also shed light on how Lamido came to be appointed Foreign Minister. He revealed that the party chairman’s original candidate declined, and Lamido, seen as a close ideological match, was chosen in his place—despite the two barely knowing each other.
Recounting a witty exchange between Lamido and the late UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Obasanjo said Cook was stunned that Lamido had been made Foreign Minister without being personally known to the president. According to Obasanjo, Lamido replied: “If he has known me, I haven’t known him,” prompting Cook to quip that Obasanjo was either “a crazy fool or a very clever guy.”
Obasanjo made it clear which view he preferred.
He credited Lamido with helping rehabilitate Nigeria’s image on the global stage after years of pariah status under military rule. Lamido’s efforts culminated in Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Nigeria for the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), symbolizing Nigeria’s restored international standing.
But even amid the glowing tributes, Obasanjo reminded Lamido and others that their legacy work is far from over.
“Your job is not finished,” he charged. “Our job is not finished until it is finished.”
With that, the former president reinforced what many in the audience took as the central message of the day: past service is noble, but Nigeria’s dream still demands the continued commitment of its most principled patriots.
