Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sharply criticized the current state of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, referring to the administration as a period of severe decline.
Obasanjo, speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, described Tinubu as “Baba-go-slow” and blamed the current leadership for exacerbating Nigeria’s issues of corruption, economic instability, and insecurity.
Quoting Achebe’s analysis from The Trouble with Nigeria, Obasanjo attributed the nation’s crisis to a failure in leadership, arguing that the problem lies not with the people or the country’s resources but with the inability of leaders to set strong examples.
He also highlighted the concept of “state capture,” where influential elites exploit public resources for personal gain, a practice he believes has become rampant under Tinubu’s watch.
According to Obasanjo, this form of corruption has led to the sale of national assets and a deterioration of public services, including education and healthcare, ultimately hindering Nigeria’s growth. He expressed concerns over the country’s economic management, warning that decisions are increasingly driven by the interests of a powerful few rather than the public good.
Reflecting on Achebe’s legacy, Obasanjo praised the literary icon for his unwavering stance on leadership and his insightful critique of Nigeria’s political landscape, emphasizing the need for a return to integrity and accountability in governance.
