In a recent response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticisms, Bayo Onanuga, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, highlighted what he termed a pattern of grandstanding by Obasanjo, who has consistently criticized subsequent administrations for Nigeria's ongoing challenges. The response came after Obasanjo's speech at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he criticized President Muhammadu Buhari as "Baba Go Slow" and President Bola Tinubu as "Emilokan." Onanuga found irony in Obasanjo's choice of forum, noting that Achebe himself had openly criticized Obasanjo's leadership style.
Onanuga pointed to several significant constitutional breaches during Obasanjo’s time in office, including his alleged involvement in the abduction of Anambra's sitting Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, and the contentious impeachments of several governors, such as Joshua Dariye of Plateau and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti. These impeachments, carried out by legislative minorities, were seen as clear violations of democratic principles.
On the economic front, Onanuga questioned Obasanjo’s self-proclaimed legacy as an economic reformer. His administration’s decision to pay off Nigeria’s $15 billion Paris Club debt, he argued, was a misstep at a time when critical infrastructure, such as federal roads, educational institutions, and the power sector, remained in dire condition. Onanuga also highlighted the $16 billion invested in the power sector during Obasanjo’s tenure, which failed to address the nation's persistent electricity shortages.
Onanuga's response further pointed to several scandals that tarnished Obasanjo’s record, including the Halliburton bribery case and allegations of using his office for personal gain. He also noted Obasanjo's failed third-term bid in 2007, followed by a flawed electoral process that cast doubt on his commitment to democratic principles.
As the current administration under President Bola Tinubu faces the economic and security challenges left behind by previous regimes, Onanuga suggested that Obasanjo’s criticisms lack credibility. For a leader who had eight years to address many of the issues he now condemns, Onanuga asserted, his claim to be a model of good governance remains unconvincing.
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