Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has shared a compelling story about discipline and leadership, revealing that he once sacked his daughter for arriving late to work at his establishment.
Speaking on Sunday with Dr. Dayo Israel, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of upholding strong work ethics, even at the expense of personal relationships.
He recounted how the incident sent a powerful message to his employees.
“If Baba could do this to his daughter, then who are we?” he quoted his staff as saying, noting that it reinforced accountability within the workplace.
Obasanjo urged the new leadership to be firm and willing to step on toes when necessary, stating:
“If you’re doing a job and you’re not stepping on toes, then you’re not being effective.”
Recounting the incident, he explained that his daughter, then a Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Ibadan, had been engaged on his farm for practical experience during a long vacation.
“On her first day, she arrived at 7:15 AM instead of the usual 7 o’clock. I warned her about the importance of being punctual and setting a good example. I made it clear that I would not hesitate to act if she repeated the mistake.”
However, the following day, she was late again—this time, with consequences.
“To my amazement, she arrived late again. I did not hesitate to send her back right from the gate,” Obasanjo recalled.
The former president emphasized that such firm decisions reinforce discipline and accountability, which are crucial for effective leadership.
