The Nigerian Presidency has issued a strong rebuttal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Obasanjo, while delivering a keynote address at Yale University’s Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, labeled Nigeria as a failing state under Tinubu’s leadership. In a fiery response, the Presidency dismissed his remarks as hypocritical and insincere, citing controversies surrounding Obasanjo’s own tenure as president.
During his address at Yale University, Obasanjo lamented Nigeria’s current state, accusing the Tinubu administration of presiding over a failing state. His remarks sparked widespread debate, with his claims challenging the government’s efforts to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
The former president, whose comments have often stirred national conversations, expressed doubt about the administration’s ability to navigate the country’s hurdles.
Presidency’s Strong Rebuttal
Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare, led the response to Obasanjo’s comments. In a message shared on his verified X account, Dare dismissed the former president’s remarks as lacking credibility, stating, “Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it.”
Dare further accused Obasanjo of hypocrisy, citing allegations of corruption and governance failures during his tenure. He referenced the infamous $16 billion allegedly spent on power generation that yielded little improvement, saying, “We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16 billion in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation.”
In defending the Tinubu administration, Dare emphasized the government’s commitment to reforms under its Renewed Hope Agenda. He described the current leadership as focused and determined to address the challenges left by previous administrations, including Obasanjo’s.
He also urged Obasanjo to self-reflect, suggesting that the former president should apologize to Nigerians for governance shortcomings during his tenure rather than criticize successors.
Dare also acknowledged Obasanjo’s statement that there is hope for Nigeria. He linked this sentiment to Tinubu’s agenda, saying, “That’s the Renewed Hope Agenda President Tinubu is about, and it’s on track. We are happy to have that conversation with the former president.”
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