Onanuga hits back at Obasanjo, says former president not an ideal leader

The Presidency on Monday responded to criticisms from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, asserting that he is not an ideal Nigerian leader. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described Obasanjo’s remarks on President Bola Tinubu’s administration as unwarranted and hypocritical.

Onanuga accused the former president of habitually blaming successive governments for Nigeria’s challenges while failing to acknowledge his own controversial leadership record. He highlighted that Obasanjo used the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University to critique Tinubu and previous administrations, branding Nigeria a failing country. Onanuga found irony in Obasanjo leveraging a platform celebrating Achebe, given the writer’s past disapproval of Obasanjo’s governance.

Referencing Achebe’s rejection of a national honor in 2004 due to concerns over corruption and abuse of power during Obasanjo’s tenure, Onanuga pointed to incidents such as the unconstitutional impeachment of governors and state-sponsored violence. He added that Obasanjo’s administration left unresolved issues in critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, and energy, despite benefiting from high oil revenues.

Onanuga accused Obasanjo of pursuing personal interests while in office, citing the controversial funding of his presidential library and private university. He also criticized the handling of the 2007 elections, which were widely regarded as flawed, and alleged mismanagement of funds in power and privatization projects.

In contrast, Onanuga commended the achievements of the Tinubu administration, emphasizing progress in military funding and security. He called for Obasanjo to reflect on his leadership shortcomings rather than offering unsolicited critiques, urging a focus on constructive dialogue for national development.