Presidency Hits Back At Obasanjo, Says He Is ‘Not A Paragon Of Virtue’ On Matters Of Leadership

The Presidency has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing him of hypocrisy and poor governance during his tenure.

The remarks came in light of Obasanjo’s recent lecture at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he critiqued past and present Nigerian administrations, including President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The statement, which issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, described Obasanjo as unfit to critique Nigeria’s leadership. 

“On matters of integrity, honesty, and morality in public leadership, Chief Obasanjo is certainly not a paragon of virtue for anyone to model after,” Onanuga wrote, adding that Obasanjo’s tenure was marked by “brazen illegality and assault on the Constitution of Nigeria.” 

The statement accused Obasanjo of leaving behind unresolved national challenges that still haunt the country today.

“If Chief Obasanjo had addressed the many problems he critiqued in his poorly written Yale lecture when he ruled Nigeria for eight years, President Buhari and President Tinubu would have had a much lighter burden of fixing the country,” the statement read.

The press release highlighted a series of controversies under Obasanjo’s administration, including the abduction of former Anambra State Governor Dr Chris Ngige, alleged misuse of public funds, and a failed third-term agenda. “During Obasanjo’s era, the unconstitutional impeachment of four governors who belonged to his party occurred,” the statement noted. 

Onanuga criticised Obasanjo’s economic management, claiming the former president’s decisions left the country ill-prepared for future challenges. “Obasanjo prides his government on paying the $15 billion debt owed to the Paris Club. Still, it was not a wise decision as it was done when the country’s critical economic infrastructure across sectors was in shambles,” he stated. 

The presidency also took issue with Obasanjo’s critique of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of hypocrisy given his administration’s alleged role in organising what it described as the “most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960.” 

“It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Onanuga wrote

Responding to Obasanjo’s assertion that Nigeria is a failing country, the Presidency highlighted progress under the Tinubu administration. It pointed to military acquisitions and ongoing efforts to address economic challenges, stating, “The Tinubu administration diligently works to overcome the country’s economic challenges… It would be better for former President Obasanjo to temper his self-righteousness in his public discussions.”  

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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