Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a scathing attack on his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, labeling his administration as the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history. In his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo accuses Buhari’s government of corruption, waste, and mismanagement. He also warns that the current administration under President Bola Tinubu might be heading down the same destructive path.
A Blistering Critique of the Buhari Era
Obasanjo’s book pulls no punches, detailing what he sees as systemic failures under Buhari’s leadership. According to him, corruption reached unprecedented levels during Buhari’s tenure, with then-Attorney General Abubakar Malami playing a key role in shielding corrupt individuals and promoting wasteful spending.
“The most egregious waste and corruption took place under President Buhari’s leadership, with the strong support of his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami,” Obasanjo writes.
He highlights several controversial decisions, including the pardon granted to convicted former governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who had been jailed for embezzling public funds. Obasanjo condemns this move, arguing that it weakened the fight against corruption and sent the wrong message to Nigerians.
Perhaps the most damning statement in the book is Obasanjo’s assertion that Buhari’s presidency failed to live up to the ideals he once championed. He recalls how Buhari, as a military leader in 1983, justified a coup against President Shehu Shagari’s government due to corruption and mismanagement. However, Obasanjo believes that Buhari’s democratic rule from 2015 to 2023 turned out to be even worse than the administrations he once criticized.
“Despite his earlier words in 1983, Buhari’s presidency became the worst civil administration in Nigeria’s history,” he states.
Tinubu’s Government Under Fire
While much of the book focuses on Buhari, Obasanjo does not spare the current administration under President Bola Tinubu. He warns that early signs suggest Tinubu’s leadership may be repeating the mistakes of his predecessor.
One of the key issues Obasanjo raises is the controversial N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which he calls wasteful and corrupt. He also criticizes the N21 billion official residence built for Vice President Kashim Shettima, questioning the priority of such expenditures at a time when Nigerians are struggling with economic hardship.
“Typical examples of waste, corruption, and misplaced priority are the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the new official residence for the Vice President, constructed at a cost of N21bn during a time of economic distress. These projects, which the President has largely ignored in the face of public outcry, seem to be more about showing off than addressing the real needs of the country,” Obasanjo argues.
He further suggests that Tinubu’s government appears to be operating on a culture of entitlement, stating, “Given what we’ve seen in the first two years of President Tinubu’s administration, it looks like the same transactional politics are at play, and the slogan seems to be ‘It’s my turn to chop.’”
Reactions from Tinubu’s Administration
Unsurprisingly, Obasanjo’s book has triggered strong reactions from Tinubu’s camp.
The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed the former president’s critique, defending the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project as a visionary initiative with massive economic potential. He also accused Obasanjo of failing to complete critical infrastructure projects during his presidency, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Similarly, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, defended the highway project, claiming it is already 70% complete and will be one of Nigeria’s most transformative developments. He urged Nigerians to ignore critics, stating, “If you don’t like the road, don’t follow it.”
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