Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recounted how he once dismissed his own daughter from his farm for arriving late to work, emphasizing the importance of discipline and accountability in leadership.
Obasanjo shared this experience while hosting Dr. Dayo Israel, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, at his Penthouse residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Ogun State.
He highlighted the incident as a lesson to his employees, demonstrating that no one is above the rules, not even family members.
Advising Dr. Israel, Obasanjo urged him to be prepared for the challenges of leadership, stressing the need to make tough decisions and step on toes when necessary to achieve success.
He noted that effective leadership often requires firmness and the ability to prioritize the collective good over individual sentiments.
“If you’re doing a job and you’re not stepping on toes, then you’re not effective,” Obasanjo said, according to a statement released by Dr. Segun Orisajo, the hospital’s Head of Public Relations.
Recounting the incident with his daughter, Obasanjo explained:
“Shortly after I left office as Head of State, my first daughter, who was then studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan, was engaged on my farm for practical experience during her long vacation.
“On her first day, she resumed at 7:15 AM instead of the usual 7:00 AM. I warned her and reminded her that she had to be a good example to other workers. I told her I would not hesitate to take action if she repeated it.
“To my amazement, she was late again the next day. I did not hesitate to send her back home right from the gate.
“This action had an indescribable effect on all my employees, as they said, ‘If Baba could do this to his daughter, who are we?’”
Earlier, Dr. Israel, who was accompanied by FMC Abeokuta Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, and members of his management team, praised Obasanjo for his wisdom and leadership.
“Meeting Baba Obasanjo is always so much fun. As we begin this journey of transformation at FMC Abeokuta, Baba’s wisdom and experience are invaluable,” Dr. Israel stated.