Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he sacked his daughter who worked for him on his farm in Ogun State.
Obasanjo, who played host to the new Chairman of the Board of Management of Federal Medical Centre Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, Dr Dayo Israel said he fired his daughter because of lateness.
The act had a lasting impression on his other employees who said: “If Baba could do this to his daughter, who are we?”
“No leader of note he has ever come across achieved without stepping on toes,” Obasanjo stated while advising Israel to prepare for challenges in his leadership role and be ready to step on toes where necessary.
Per a statement from the hospital’s Head of Public Relations, Dr Segun Orisajo, Obasanjo said: “If you’re doing a job and you’re not stepping on toes, then you’re not effective.
“Shortly after I left office as Head of State, my first daughter, then at the University of Ibadan, studying Veterinary Medicine was engaged on my farm to gain some practical experience during long vacation”.
“On day one, she resumed a quarter past seven in the morning as against the usual 7 o’clock. I warned her, reminding her that she has an obligation to be of good example to other workers.
“I told her I will not hesitate to wield the big stick should the same be repeated going forward.
“To my amazement, the following day, she was late to work again. I did not hesitate to send her back right from the gate.
“Not surprisingly, this had an indescribable effect on all my employees, saying, If Baba could do this to his daughter, who are we?”