…Fmr. President Obasanjo’s leadership ‘failed to fix deplorable federal roads’ — Onanuga
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Presidency has launched a sharp rebuke at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing his administration of inflicting mortal wounds on Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement shared on his X, formerly Twitter, account on Monday, Special Adviser, Public Communication and Orientation to the President, Sunday Dare claimed that successive administrations struggled to rectify the damage left by Obasanjo and that President Tinubu is now making significant progress in addressing these issues.
Dare’s statement came in response to recent comments made by Obasanjo over a recent remark where he described President Bola Tinubu as ‘baba-go slow.’
According to Dare, Obasanjo’s presidency was characterised by destructive decisions, notably his failed attempt to secure a third term, which he said caused long-term harm to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He said Obasanjo has lost any moral authority to criticise the current government, stressing that he should apologise to Nigerians for failing to lay the necessary infrastructure for the country’s progress.
He said, “Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, only exacerbated by his destructive obsession with an ill-fated third-term bid.
“He is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it.
“His journey down the path of delusion has always been apparent, as has his descent into distorting facts, forgetting that he presided over a presidency that was among the most corrupt in history. His recent comments at Yale University lack sincerity.
“It is laughable that Obasanjo’s pretensions about fighting corruption are failing to convince the general public.”
Dare pointed out that under Obasanjo’s leadership, no explanation was ever given for the $16bn wasted on generating “megawatts of darkness” across the nation.
“But that is not even the main issue. The Yoruba proverb, ‘A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo,’ teaches that we should not be distracted by the noise of the market. Instead, we should focus on the person with whom we are negotiating.
“This is an instructive lesson. In this market called Nigeria, the man with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda is the one that matters – President Tinubu and, indeed, Nigerians.
“Everything else is just ‘ariwo oja’ (market noise). This administration will remain focused on bringing relief to Nigerians. Obasanjo’s remarks are a reflection of the childish nature of market noise.
“President Tinubu will stay the course in seeing through the reforms he has initiated for a better Nigeria,” he added.
He advised Obasanjo to refrain from constantly criticising his successors and to take time to reflect on how he has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigerian nation, which President Tinubu is now valiantly working to restore.
“We thank former President Obasanjo for acknowledging that ‘Yes, there is hope.’ That’s the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda that President Tinubu is advancing, and it’s well on track. We look forward to having that conversation with the former president,” he added.
Also, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of failing to address critical infrastructure issues, particularly the deplorable state of federal roads, during his time in office.
Onanuga described Obasanjo’s failure to improve the country’s road network as one of the major shortcomings of his presidency, particularly in light of the significant oil revenue that flowed into the country during his tenure.
He specifically cited the poor condition of key highways, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Lagos-Abeokuta road, and the Otta-Idiroko road, which remained in disrepair despite the vast resources generated from oil exports.
“Obasanjo’s administration had ample financial resources from oil receipts but failed to make meaningful investments in the country’s infrastructure,” Onanuga said.
He further pointed out that Obasanjo’s government had not only failed to address infrastructure issues but also failed to expand the national road network, despite having the funds available to do so.
Onanuga criticised the former president for missing a key opportunity to improve the country’s transport infrastructure, which he said remains a major challenge for Nigeria today.
The Special Adviser also highlighted that while Obasanjo often touted his administration’s economic achievements, his inability to address critical issues like infrastructure and education undermines his credibility when it comes to offering advice on leadership.
Onanuga argued that Obasanjo’s tenure, marked by rising oil revenues, could have been a time of transformative development, but instead was characterised by missed opportunities.
“While Obasanjo’s government boasted of paying off Nigeria’s debt and managing fiscal policy during a period of rising crude oil prices, it did not adequately address the urgent infrastructural deficits,” Onanuga added.
Onanuga also criticised Obasanjo for profiting from private university ventures while failing to adequately invest in public education.
He contended that both Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, took advantage of the weaknesses in the public education system by establishing private universities instead of focusing on the development of state-run institutions.