Former Nigeria president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo popularly called Baba of Africa on Saturday challenged Nigerian youths not to leave the country to “those who are messing it up.”

He told them to hold their future in their hands, with a firm belief that “today is their day”, as against the famous cliché that “youths are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at an event tagged: “OBJ @85 Free Keke Programme,” where 85 tricycles (keke) were distributed to beneficiaries as part of the activities marking the former president’s 85th birthday.

The tricycles were donated through the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), with beneficiaries drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In his remarks, Obasanjo said that despite many challenges confronting Nigeria, there are “opportunities” and asked the younger generation to take advantage of them.

He also charged them to roll up their sleeves and make necessary contributions towards addressing the challenges of the country.

He said, “If the youth leave things to those who are messing it up, and who are saying they are the leaders of tomorrow, they will never have that tomorrow.”

The chairperson of the centre, Dr Bisi Kolapo, implored the youth to emulate Obasanjo’s passion and commitment in an effort to build the “Nigeria of our dreams.”

Kolapo also warned them against corruption and greed, saying it would be difficult to fight the menace if they became culprits.