Speaking at the occasion, Obasanjo noted that for Nigeria to move on, it needs those he called “rebels” who would stand and speak the fact without fear or favour.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a previous Nigerian President has said the Nigerian country “needs more rebels” to speak the reality to power without minding whose ox is gored.

This, according to Obasanjo, is among the best actions towards rebuilding the country.

Obasanjo spoke on Saturday throughout the unveiling of the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, in Abeokuta, ‘Footprints Of A Rebel’, to commemorate his 80th birthday.

Speaking at the occasion, Obasanjo noted that for Nigeria to move on, it needs those he called “rebels” who would speak the truth and stand without fear or favour.

The Balogun Owu kept that whoever wishes to live a life of honesty and stability should be a rebel.

His words: “Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel. It is good.

“But the truth is that if you have to leave a life of honesty and integrity, you need to end up being a rebel. There would be some time you would be asked to do something, however you would state no, this is not. And when you state that, you will end up being a rebel. You might even end up being a persona non grata.

“This is our nation, there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our nation, Nigeria, requires more of rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and state this is not right; this, I will not become part of; this is bad for Nigeria.”