Obasanjo Declares Urgency for Nigeria’s Progress, Criticises Past and Present Leadership

Obasanjo Declares Urgency for Nigeria’s Progress, Criticises Past and Present Leadership

By Blessing Eze 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over Nigeria’s slow pace of development, stating that he is in a hurry to see the nation attain its true potential before he reaches what he described as his “departure lounge.”

Speaking while reflecting on his public service journey and his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo assessed the trajectory of Nigeria’s leadership, criticising both past and present administrations for failing to live up to the nation’s expectations.

The former president explained that his numerous books and public interventions—including My Command, Nzeogwu, Not My Will, and his three-volume autobiography My Watch—were not borne out of malice but from a genuine desire to see Nigeria progress.

“All my writings have been aimed at making Nigeria better because I strongly believe that Nigeria can be made better and I also believe in documentation,” he said, stressing that his letters to superiors and successors during moments of crisis were intended to help leaders learn lessons and draw national attention to pressing challenges.

Responding to Criticism

Obasanjo, who led Nigeria as military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and as a civilian President from 1999 to 2007, acknowledged that many have accused him of sounding sanctimonious or of being guilty of the same failings he criticises. However, he insisted that his conscience and records remain clear.

“Some have accused me of being equally guilty of the things I have written about or accused others of. I rely on my conscience and my records and have no need to defend myself,” he declared.

Buhari and Tinubu Under Fire

In his latest book, Obasanjo described the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023) as “the worst civil administration regime so far in Nigeria’s history.” He recalled that while Buhari justified the 1983 coup on grounds of corruption, mismanagement, and electoral malpractice, he later failed to address those same issues as a civilian president.

“Good points and good words which Buhari failed to follow when he became the President years later. Words are cheap and what needed to be done was left undone during Buhari’s civil administration,” Obasanjo wrote.

In a rebuttal, Mallam Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesman, alleged that Obasanjo’s criticisms were rooted in personal grievances, including a disagreement over the award of the Mambilla Power Project contract.

Obasanjo also reserved sharp criticism for the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of inefficiency. “Only Bola Tinubu’s administration seems to be competing with Buhari’s (in the area of inefficiency) for now,” he remarked.

Efforts to reach the presidency for a response were unsuccessful as calls and messages to the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, were not returned at the time of filing this report.

A Life of Service and Reflection

Reflecting on his legacy, Obasanjo noted that history would judge his contributions fairly. He recalled his life experiences ranging from rural struggles and peacekeeping missions to civil war, imprisonment, and two tenures as Nigeria’s leader.

“Yes, I am both angry and sad because I have seen the best and the worst of our country. With hindsight, we know we made some mistakes, but again we did some great things in our country, for our country and for Africa,” he said.

“I have had the great honour of serving this country as a military Head of State and a President. So, it might be said that I have sat on both sides of the fence. I have gone through the crucible of rural life, meagre resources, military peacekeeping in Africa, war in my own country, humiliation and imprisonment. I have learned a lot from what I have gone through, pleasant and not-so-pleasant,” Obasanjo added.