The Presidency has responded strongly to comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, attributing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges to his administration and subsequent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governments.
This comes after Obasanjo criticised former President Muhammadu Buhari as “Baba-Go-Slow” and referred to President Bola Tinubu as “Emilokan,” while claiming Nigeria is edging toward becoming a failed state.
In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency accused Obasanjo of fostering many of the problems he now criticises.
The statement described him as a leader with a “habit of casting aspersions on every subsequent administration” and lacking the moral authority to comment on governance.
“From his lofty perch, he blamed those who served after his tenure for the nation’s myriad challenges,” Onanuga said. “Unfortunately, his habit of portraying himself as righteous overshadows his significant failures as a leader.”
The Presidency pointed to allegations of corruption, poor governance, and human rights abuses during Obasanjo’s tenure, including the controversial impeachment of governors and what it called “the most fraudulent election in the country’s history” in 2007.
The Presidency criticised Obasanjo’s economic policies, calling the repayment of $15 billion to the Paris Club debt unwise while neglecting critical infrastructure. It also noted the administration’s failed $16 billion investment in power, the controversial privatisation of state assets, and alleged mismanagement of oil and gas resources.
On security, the statement accused Obasanjo of leaving the military underfunded and unmodernized, asserting that significant improvements in the armed forces only began under the Buhari administration.
The Presidency concluded by urging Obasanjo to focus on introspection rather than public critiques. “Instead of criticizing, his remaining years would be better spent reflecting on the missed opportunities during his time in leadership,” it said.
