Former President Olusegun Obasanjo 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 nation.

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

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

The Balogun Owu preserved that whoever wants to live a life of honesty and stability must be a rebel.

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

“But the fact is that if you have to leave a life of sincerity and integrity, you have to end up being a rebel. There would be some time you would be asked to do something, but you would say no, this is not. And when you state that, you will end up being a rebel. You may even end up being a personality non grata.

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