By Abubakar Yunusa
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, describing the current period as one of severe national decline.
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Obasanjo lambasted Tinubu’s administration, referring to the president as “Baba-go-slow” and accusing him of exacerbating Nigeria’s persistent issues of corruption, economic instability, and insecurity.
Obasanjo, reflecting on the writings of Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, specifically the book The Trouble with Nigeria, argued that the nation’s crisis is rooted in a failure of leadership, rather than any deficiencies in its people or resources.
He emphasized that leadership in Nigeria has consistently failed to provide the necessary example for national development.
In his address, Obasanjo pointed to “state capture” as a growing concern, claiming that influential elites have exploited the country’s resources for personal gain. He criticized Tinubu’s government for enabling this practice, which he said has resulted in the sale of national assets and the deterioration of vital public services such as healthcare and education.
Obasanjo warned that Nigeria’s economic decisions were increasingly driven by the interests of a powerful few, rather than the public good. He also expressed deep concern about the erosion of integrity in governance.
Praising Achebe’s legacy, Obasanjo called for a return to the values of accountability and ethical leadership, urging Nigeria’s current leaders to learn from the late author’s insights on the country’s political landscape.
Obasanjo’s remarks come amid growing discontent within Nigeria over the state of the economy and governance under Tinubu’s administration.