Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he alleged that subsequent administrations had failed the nation, describing Nigeria as a “failing country.” Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Connecticut, United States, Obasanjo also urged Nigerians to prioritise the appointment of a new and credible leadership for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at all levels to ensure electoral integrity.

The former president, who spoke on the theme: “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” described what is happening in the country at the moment as “state capture.”

However, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took a swipe at Obasanjo’s comments, labeling them hypocritical and undeserving of emulation.

In a statement in Abuja last week, Onanuga accused Obasanjo of a legacy marred by constitutional violations, corruption, and poor leadership during his time in office.

“Brazen illegality and assault on the Constitution of Nigeria reached a disturbing height under the leadership of Chief Obasanjo,” the presidential aide said. He cited the unconstitutional impeachment of four state governors and allegations of corruption, including misuse of public funds and involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

Onanuga also criticised Obasanjo’s handling of Nigeria’s economic resources. While acknowledging the fiscal benefits of high crude oil prices during Obasanjo’s tenure, the statement argued that these opportunities were squandered.

Key criticisms included neglecting national infrastructure, leaving federal roads in disrepair, and failing to address the country’s power crisis despite spending $16 billion on electricity projects.

“Obasanjo failed to fix the deplorable federal roads or expand the national road network,” the statement read, listing uncompleted projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It also accused him of prioritising personal interests, such as advancing private enterprises like his university and presidential library, funded through questionable donations.

Obasanjo’s privatisation efforts were also criticised as benefiting cronies at the expense of national interests.Onanuga highlighted the controversial sale of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) for a fraction of its value, as a prime example.

The statement further condemned Obasanjo’s third-term bid, which was described as a “failed project” that wasted billions of naira.

It argued that the flawed electoral process he oversaw in 2007 undermines his credibility to comment on governance and electoral integrity.

Additionally, Obasanjo was accused of neglecting national security during his administration, leaving the armed forces underfunded and ill-equipped.

The statement credited subsequent All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations with modernising Nigeria’s military and improving security infrastructure.

It concluded by urging Obasanjo to focus on introspection rather than criticism.

Obasanjo also had a flak over his criticism of the Tinubu government from Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South, Ondo state. He urged the former president to desist from making inflammatory statement while commenting on the state of the nation.

The senator advised Obasanjo to be mindful of his language, saying that employing a language of war in peace time is tantamount to mutiny.

Ibrahim, who spoke on a television programme, said contrary to Obasanjo’s claims, Nigeria is not a failed state.

“I have a lot of respect for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but the language of war in peace time is inappropriate.

“Everybody knows that developing countries have a myriad of challenges, but it is most inappropriate to label all of them as failed states. How do you define developing countries in international relations? Failed states with absence of government and institutions that are not working? Nigeria cannot be so defined.

“Obasanjo cannot be more interested in Nigeria than myself and many others. I employ over 4,000 Nigerians. Baba himself knows that Nigeria is not a failed state, but a country going through a difficult phase.

“Nigeria is working under this government. Tinubu’s administration knows from the beginning the problems they are going to face by trying to be independent. The economic reforms are necessary and will lead to a more prosperous country.

“So, I disagree with former President Obasanjo that Nigeria is a failed state. I disagree with Obasanjo for using war language in peacetime; we don’t need this kind of bullet statement from an elder statesman.

“Obasanjo should keep quiet. If he wants to say anything, he should look at the assessment of the government in its totality. Why is Obasanjo not talking about Boko Haram? Why is Obasanjo not talking about security? Why is Obasanjo not telling us that the security situation in the country has improved under Tinubu? Is the dollar-to-naira ratio now the yardstick to measure government performance?

“It is instructive that this is not the first time Obasanjo would be criticising the Tinubu administration. The former president had in May condemned the current administration’s implementation of the fuel subsidy removal, the floating of the naira as well as its handling of the coup d’etat in Niger Republic.

“Today, the government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented and have led to the impoverisation of the economy and of Nigerians. These are the removal of subsidy, closing the gap between the black market and official rates of exchange and the third is dealing with a military coup in Niger Republic,” Obasanjo said.

Blueprint is miffed by Obasanjo’s penchant for playing to the gallery. Every government after Obasanjo’s had suffered severe bashing from the ex-president, who ought to be a father-figure. Besides former President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo enjoyed the rare privilege of ruling Nigeria as both a military head of state and a democratically elected president for a cumulative 11-year tenure.

Having taken so much from his fatherland, the least expected from Obasanjo is to reciprocate by giving back to the society. The former president should provide empowerment programmes like scholarship and employment opportunities through the instrumentality of a foundation. His country certainly deserves better than unrestrained bashing; enough of Obasanjo’s tantrums. (Blueprint Editorial)