Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has unleashed a scathing critique of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, labeling it the “worst in corruption” in Nigeria’s democratic history. This bombshell revelation comes courtesy of Obasanjo’s latest book, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” where he also takes aim at the current administration of President Bola Tinubu for perpetuating the same culture of misgovernance and corruption.
Obasanjo’s comments have predictably sparked a firestorm of reaction, with the federal government scrambling to defend its policies and projects. Minister of Works David Umahi has been particularly vocal, pushing back against Obasanjo’s characterization of the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project as “wasteful and corrupt.” Umahi insists that the project boasts enormous economic potential and will ultimately bring prosperity to Nigerian citizens.
The presidency has also weighed in on the matter, with Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare hailing the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway as a “visionary legacy project” poised to transform the country’s economic landscape.
Given Obasanjo’s long history of speaking truth to power and denouncing corruption, his latest salvo comes as little surprise. However, the federal government’s eagerness to rebut his claims suggests that they are taking his criticisms seriously – and are determined to justify their policies and projects.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Obasanjo’s comments have struck a nerve, and the federal government is on the defensive. But will this war of words ultimately lead to meaningful reforms, or will it simply devolve into a cycle of recrimination and finger-pointing? Only time will tell.
