The Presidency has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent critique of Nigerian leadership, labelling him as an inappropriate figure to lecture on governance and morality.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, released a statement on Saturday, describing Obasanjo’s track record as riddled with missteps that undermine his credibility as a model leader.
Responding to Obasanjo’s remarks at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where the former president described Nigeria as a failing state and criticized the administrations of Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, Onanuga accused him of hypocrisy.
“Chief Obasanjo’s tenure was marred by brazen constitutional violations, poor economic decisions, and scandals,” Onanuga stated.
He highlighted controversies including the 2004 abduction of Anambra Governor Chris Ngige, unconstitutional impeachments of governors, and the infamous third-term agenda.
“A leader under whose watch these infractions occurred lacks the moral standing to critique others,” Onanuga added.
Onanuga challenged Obasanjo’s claim of economic prowess, citing missed opportunities during his administration.
“He boasted of paying off Nigeria’s debt but left critical infrastructure like roads and power in deplorable condition. His $16 billion investment in the power sector yielded no improvement, and his privatization program undervalued state assets, benefiting cronies rather than Nigerians.”
He further accused Obasanjo of ignoring Nigeria’s vast gas reserves in favour of oil, a misstep Obasanjo himself recently acknowledged. According to Onanuga, this oversight has burdened subsequent administrations, including Buhari and Tinubu, who have had to correct course.
