Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a harsh critique of his successor, Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, calling it the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He has also expressed concern that the current government under President Bola Tinubu is following a similar path of misgovernance and corruption, potentially surpassing Buhari’s record.
Obasanjo’s comments were made in the first chapter of his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future.”
The book, which Obasanjo unveiled last week to mark his 88th birthday, provides an in-depth analysis of Nigeria’s leadership history, offering sharp criticisms of past and present administrations.
In the book, Obasanjo specifically condemned several projects and decisions taken by the Buhari administration, including the controversial N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which he labelled as wasteful and corrupt.
He also took aim at the N21bn spent on the construction of a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority given the country’s economic struggles.
Obasanjo was especially critical of Buhari’s tenure, highlighting what he described as the “atrocious waste” and entrenchment of corruption. He accused Buhari’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, of playing a pivotal role in enabling corruption during the Buhari administration.
Obasanjo said, “The most atrocious waste, enthronement of corruption and discouragement of officials fighting corruption took place under the watch of President Buhari and the devil’s workshop, his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami.”
However, Obasanjo’s warning to President Tinubu was equally strong. He suggested that Tinubu’s administration, still in its early years, is already showing signs of repeating the same mistakes, especially with the rising sense of transactional politics.
“Given about two years of President Tinubu in office, it appears that the game of short-changing the over 230 million Nigerians continues because everything is said to be transactional and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop,’” Obasanjo remarked.
The former president also referred to the contradictions between Buhari’s military regime in 1983, when he condemned corruption and mismanagement of public funds, and his failure to curb these issues when he later became a civilian president.
Obasanjo noted that despite Buhari’s strong anti-corruption rhetoric in 1983, his presidency from 2015 to 2023 was marked by a failure to live up to those ideals.
Meanwhile, the presidency has vigorously defended the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it a visionary legacy project with immense economic potential.
President Tinubu’s aides, including Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare, and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi, countered Obasanjo’s criticisms, stressing that the project would significantly benefit the country’s infrastructure and economic growth.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, they argued, is not wasteful but rather a long-term investment in Nigeria’s economic future, drawing parallels to the success of the Lekki-Epe corridor in Lagos, which saw massive real estate growth and industrial developments, including the Dangote refinery and Lagos Free Trade Zone.
Additionally, Obasanjo’s criticism extended beyond Buhari’s administration to a number of former officials, including ex-aviation minister Hadi Sirika, whom Obasanjo accused of wasting billions on the Nigeria Air project.
According to Obasanjo, Sirika’s handling of the project, which involved hiring a plane from Ethiopian Airlines, was a massive misappropriation of funds.
He also expressed dismay at the presidential pardon granted to former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, who had been convicted of corruption under Buhari’s government.
Obasanjo claimed the pardon was influenced by Malami’s advice, calling it a setback in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
In addition to critiquing the Buhari administration, Obasanjo lamented the wastefulness and corruption of both civilian and military governments throughout Nigeria’s history.
He recalled instances of financial mismanagement, including the N150m lost in a balloon communication project under General Murtala Mohammed’s military regime, and the ongoing issue of gas flaring, which has cost Nigeria an estimated $59bn in lost revenue.
The former president also reflected on the series of bad decisions made by successive governments, including the cancellation of the Lagos metro line project during Buhari’s military regime and the bungled Ajaokuta Steel Plant privatization during the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
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He argued that these decisions contributed to Nigeria’s stagnant development.
Despite Obasanjo’s criticisms, the presidency maintained its stance on several policies, including the controversial pardon granted to former corrupt officials and the ongoing infrastructural projects.
President Tinubu’s aides stressed that such decisions were aimed at addressing Nigeria’s complex challenges, emphasizing that the president’s focus remains on national development and prosperity, despite the criticisms from Obasanjo and others.
As the debate continues over the effectiveness of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and other policies, it’s clear that Obasanjo’s reflections in his new book will likely shape public opinion and influence ongoing discussions on Nigeria’s political future.
With the country facing massive challenges, both the current and past administrations will undoubtedly face further scrutiny as Nigerians continue to grapple with issues of governance, corruption, and national progress.
