Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of heading toward the same governance failures as former President Muhammadu Buhari’s.
He made this claim in his new books, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” and “Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation” both of which were launched last week to mark his 88th birthday.
Obasanjo described Buhari’s tenure as the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history, citing corruption and mismanagement. He accused Tinubu’s government of continuing on the same path, claiming its leadership prioritizes personal gain over public service.
“The most atrocious waste, enthronement of corruption, and discouragement of officials fighting corruption took place under Buhari,” he wrote. “Now, it appears that the game of short-changing 230 million Nigerians continues under Tinubu.”
Presidency Reacts Promptly
The presidency quickly dismissed Obasanjo’s claims, defending its policies, especially the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Presidential aide Sunday Dare described the ₦15.6 trillion project as a “visionary legacy project” that will boost economic growth.
Another presidential spokesman, Temitope Ajayi, criticized Obasanjo’s record as president.
“If, as President for eight years, he couldn’t fix the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Lagos-Abeokuta road, we can’t take his view on this highway seriously,” he said.
Minister of Works David Umahi also defended the highway project, insisting it is necessary for Nigeria’s development. He claimed critics were either uninformed or politically motivated. “The project is transparent, with a high return on investment,” Umahi argued.
Allegation of Corrupt Pardons
Obasanjo also criticized Buhari for pardoning two former governors convicted of corruption. Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame were jailed for embezzling over ₦2.7 billion but were released early.
Obasanjo accused former Attorney General Abubakar Malami of orchestrating the move for personal gain.
“The EFCC was demoralized after their release. Some officers lost interest in fighting corruption,” he wrote.
Malami refused to comment, claiming he hadn’t read the book. Even after he was shown excerpts, he still did not respond.
Obasanjo also slammed former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika for allegedly mismanaging ₦85 billion meant for a new national airline, calling the project a “shameful scam.”
Like 👍, Comment, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
Feel free to download and share our Daily Newsletter for Wednesday, March 12, 2025. 👇
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
