Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a prominent member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former gubernatorial candidate in Delta State, has strongly rebuked the presidency for its careless reaction to what he described as the patriotic concerns raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo regarding the economic mismanagement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Obasanjo recently addressed the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, where he painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s economic state, lamenting the leadership’s failure to take accountability. He also called for reforms in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure electoral integrity, criticizing the current leadership and labeling the country as suffering from “state capture.”
In a widely condemned response, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, accused Obasanjo of presiding over what he termed the most egregious violations of Nigeria’s constitution. He cited allegations of corruption, infrastructure failures, and the unconstitutional impeachment of state governors during Obasanjo’s presidency.
“Under Obasanjo, there was a marked increase in constitutional violations and corruption,” Onanuga remarked, highlighting unfulfilled projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the failure to improve federal road conditions. He further claimed that Obasanjo’s self-portrayal as an economic expert is unfounded, stating that he left unresolved many of the issues he mentioned in his address.
Additionally, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation to President Tinubu, labeled Obasanjo a troublemaker who led the most corrupt administration in Nigeria’s history. He criticized Obasanjo for allegedly squandering $16 billion on power generation, which failed to produce results.
“Obasanjo is known for his capacity for mischief, and his recent comments lack sincerity and factual accuracy,” Dare stated. He emphasized that the former president’s record of corruption undermines his credibility in critiquing the current government.
Dare concluded by asserting that Obasanjo has lost the moral authority to condemn any administration and should apologize to Nigerians for failing to establish the necessary infrastructure for the country’s progress.
