Presidency Claims Obasanjo’s Regime Inflicted Lasting Wounds on Nigerian Democracy

The Nigerian presidency accuses former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration of leaving “mortal wounds” on the country’s democracy, sparking heated political discourse.

Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, expressed that Nigeria’s democracy faced significant setbacks during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Dare asserted that successive administrations grappled with the challenges inherited from Obasanjo’s tenure and that President Tinubu is currently making notable headway in resolving these issues.

Dare argues that Obasanjo no longer has the moral authority to criticize the current government. He emphasizes that Obasanjo should apologize to Nigerians for not establishing the essential infrastructure needed for the country’s advancement.

He stated that democracy was critically damaged during his tenure, further worsened by his detrimental fixation on an ill-advised attempt for a third term.

He is known among Nigerians for his incredible knack for mischief.

His tendency towards delusion has always been evident, as has his pattern of distorting facts and forgetting that he led one of the most corrupt presidencies in history. His recent remarks at Yale University lack sincerity.

Obasanjo’s attempts to portray himself as a corruption fighter are not convincing the general public, which is quite amusing.

Dare highlighted that during Obasanjo’s leadership, no clarification was ever provided for the $16 billion spent on producing “megawatts of darkness” throughout the country.

However, that’s not the primary concern. The Yoruba proverb “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo,” suggests that we shouldn’t be sidetracked by the market’s noise. Rather, our attention should remain on the person with whom we’re negotiating.

This is a valuable lesson: in the Nigerian market, it’s President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda that holds significance for both him and Nigerians.

All other issues are merely ‘ariwo oja’ (market noise). This administration is committed to staying focused on providing relief to Nigerians. Obasanjo’s comments exemplify the immature nature of such distractions.

He added that President Tinubu is committed to continuing the reforms he has started for a better Nigeria.

He suggested that Obasanjo avoid continually criticizing his successors and instead reflect on how he may have contributed to Nigeria’s current challenges, which President Tinubu is now working hard to address.

“We appreciate former President Obasanjo for recognizing that ‘Yes, there is hope.’ This aligns with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda that President Tinubu is promoting and steadily progressing. We are eager to engage in further discussions with the former president,” he concluded.