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  • Obasanjo, INEC and need for a balanced review of Nigeria’s elections

    Obasanjo, INEC and need for a balanced review of Nigeria’s elections

    •  By Ezenwa Nwagwu

    The dust from the Ondo State Governorship Election is yet to settle when former President Olusegun Obasanjo fired a salvo, calling for the sack of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and other officials at all levels.

    The former president made the call during his address at the prestigious Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University in the United States, where he presented a paper titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria.”

    As expected, the statement by the former president has stirred backlash. However, it is my opinion that Obasanjo’s statement provides a critical opportunity to contextualize Nigeria’s electoral journey, the progress made, and the challenges that persist despite attempts to reform our processes.

    We must not miss this opportunity to remind and educate the younger generation, who had the privilege of participating in Nigeria’s elections for the first time in 2023. We must use this opportunity to remind young Nigerians where we are coming from and the progress that we have made in our elections and democracy.

    For the younger generation, it is essential to understand the context of Nigeria’s electoral history, why and how we arrived at reforms like BVAS and IReV which represent a departure from the irregularities of the past.

    This is an opportunity to remind Nigerians that in 2022, under this current leadership, INEC opened itself to scrutiny by publishing the voters register online for the first time. Many Nigerians may have forgotten what our voters’ register looks or how it is inundated with various forms of irregularities ranging from registration of minors, multiple registrations and registration of foreigners or aliens.

    In fact, Nigeria’s voters register used to contain fictitious names such as Muhammed Alli, Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, to concoct victory for political parties. This was how some states “manufacture” two million votes in past elections. A feat they couldn’t achieve in 2023 due to reforms by INEC.

    While, INEC under its current leadership has come under criticism due to the functionality of the IReV portal, it is important to respectfully note that the IReV portal is an INEC initiative to improve access to election results. It may not have worked perfectly during the 2023 election, but there is no doubt that we have made progress.

    That Nigerians have a result viewing portal or that Nigerians can do simultaneous accreditation and voting is a significant lift from what we had in the past. In the past, elections lasted into midnight because people had to do accreditation, go home and come back later to vote.

    That Nigerians do not hear of people being killed on election day or ballot boxes being snatched and stuffed with ballot paper is significant progress.

    While these reforms are not perfect, they have shifted Nigeria’s elections towards greater credibility.

    Since Obasanjo’s comment coincided with the Ondo governorship election, let me provide some context into how this election is far better from what we had in the past.

    The Ondo State election that held on Saturday had 111 domestic and international accredited observer organisations. Reports from the groups acknowledged challenges like vote buying and electoral violence, while commending early opening of polls and the rapid uploading of results to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). As at 7pm on Election Day, 90% of the results were available online, a feat that demonstrates the impact of technological reforms implemented by INEC.

    To understand the strides made in Nigeria’s electoral process, and why this context of Ondo election is important, it is essential to reflect on where we started in Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

    A check on Wikipedia shows that during the 2003 Edo State gubernatorial election, PDP’s Lucky Igbinedion reportedly garnered 969,747 votes, while his opponents scored zero. Such blatant irregularities were characteristic of elections conducted under Obasanjo’s administration. Similarly, the 2007 general elections were marred by massive irregularities, with instances of results being announced while voting was still ongoing.

    Read Also: ICPC tracks N610b constituency, executive projects in 22 states

    It was the same Obasanjo who pressured the then INEC leadership to declare Prof Oserheimen Osunbor the winner of the 2007 governorship election won by Adams Oshiomhole.

    These were dark chapters in Nigerians electoral history, marked by lack of transparency, manipulation, and disregard for democratic principles. It was so bad that during the 2007 general election in Rivers State, election results were being declared while voting was still in progress.

    In fact, the winner of that election, President Musa Yar’Adua was so embarrassed by the outcome that he vowed to review the election. That review gave birth to the Justice Uwais committee. Interesting, the current INEC leadership had commenced the implementation of that committee report. Nine recommendations that relate to INEC from that committee have been fully implemented, especially biometric registration of voters.

    As someone who is invested in the electoral process, I’m concerned that former President Obasanjo’s critique of INEC could be considered part of a broader resistance to reforms that reduce the control of elites over electoral outcomes. The democratization of Nigeria’s elections has transferred power from political kingmakers to the people. This shift has alarmed those accustomed to manipulating the system.

    We may argue that our elections are now characterized by vote buying – an unfortunate reality of desperation by the political class. Sadly, vote buying reflects a moral and societal issue rather than an institutional failure by INEC. Nigerians must address this problem collectively rather than placing undue blame on the electoral body. Issues of electoral violence and voting buying are issues that politicians and security agencies must address.

    Imagine your child was performing poorly in school, failing nearly all their subjects. As a parent, you responded with scolding and punishments. Over time, the child began to improve, excelling in some subjects while still struggling in a few. Interestingly, the child has shown commitment to further improve in those areas where he or she is still struggling.

    I imagine that the sensible thing to do at this point would be to acknowledge and praise the areas of improvement, while perhaps hiring a tutor to help with the remaining challenges. However, continuing to berate the child and label them as dull, despite their visible efforts, would be unfair. Yes, you want your child to excel, but it’s important to balance criticism with encouragement—commending their progress while addressing areas that still need work.

    INEC, under successive leaderships, has made deliberate efforts to address the flaws of the past. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and IReV has brought significant improvements. These technologies ensure transparent voter accreditation, faster result uploads, and greater public access to election results in real time.

    As Nigerians, we must acknowledge that our elections are not yet perfect, but they have improved significantly.

    The road to credible elections is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires collaboration between INEC, political actors, civil society, and citizens. Let us celebrate the progress made while remaining committed to addressing the challenges that persist. Nigerians remember, and history will judge us all by how we uphold the principles of democracy.

    I will end by quoting former President Obasanjo in his address at the Leon Sullivan dialogue on Nigeria at the National Press Club, Washington DC, on April 29, 2010.

    The former president said: “with all due respect, if Jesus Christ could come to the world and be the chairman of INEC, any election he would conduct will be disputed.

    “Since I got here three days ago, I understand that the chairman of INEC has been asked to go on leave. People have also talked about electoral reform.

    “Quite honestly, I have said that I don’t understand in detail what this electoral reform is. One thing that we need to reform in our own society is the politician. We need to reform politicians.”

    •Nwagwu is the executive director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA).

  • Nigeria needs character remoulding, not electoral reform, Lagos monarch tells Obasanjo

    Nigeria needs character remoulding, not electoral reform, Lagos monarch tells Obasanjo

    The traditional ruler of the Otumara Community in the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, has stated that Nigeria needs to focus on individual character development rather than electoral or judicial reform to address its complex socio-economic and political challenges.

    Kalejaiye suggested that the solution to Nigeria’s problems lies in living by and upholding the second stanza of the country’s national pledge.

    He argued that embracing this principle at this crucial time would set the nation on a path toward progress, peace, and prosperity.

    He emphasised that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the country’s electoral and legal systems. Instead, he identified individual attitudes towards corruption, greed, and an excessive desire for power and authority as the primary factors undermining the nation’s progress.

    Kalejaiye urged Nigerians, especially those in the political class, to engage in self-improvement and to be faithful, loyal, and honest to the Nigerian state.

    Read Also: Council condemns Obasanjo over call for removal of INEC boss

    He said: “If we live our lives in accordance to the second stanza of the country’s National Pledge, corruption, electoral fraud and rigging, vote buying and other challenges confronting us as a nation will be a foregone issue. Our pledge to be faithful, loyal and honest must strictly adhere to tackle corruption in the judiciary and in governance.

    “Our problem is not human resources, we have professionals in every field in abundance. Our problem is not the absence of laws; the country’s laws are objective and unambiguous but our problem has to do with individual greed and corruption.

    “This is where I disagree with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo who called for the reform of the country’s electoral law and the appointment of new, credible leaders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent corruption and re-establish trust during the Chinua Achebe leadership forum held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

    “The former president said reforming the electoral system and appointing new credible leaders would address the issues at hand but I say, remoulding individual character and living the second stanza of the national pledge is enough to set us on the path of progress. If this is done, those at the helms of affairs of the EFCC, INEC the ICPC, and other government agencies and parastatals will be just, honest, and incorruptible in dealing with others because the success of the Nigeria project will be paramount in their hearts

    “They will shun corruption and not compromise in handling corruption cases. There are references to corruption cases that have been lying fallow for years at the ICPC and EFCC without prosecution. The same goes for government officials who at the snap of a finger are eager to drop charges against suspects of financial and economic crimes.”

  • Council condemns Obasanjo over call for removal of INEC boss

    Council condemns Obasanjo over call for removal of INEC boss

    The Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) has disagreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s demand for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    The group’s reaction followed Obasanjo’s remarks at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University in the United States, where he criticised INEC’s handling of the 2023 elections, labeling it a “travesty” and calling for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral process.

    In a statement by the president of the group, Comrade Eric Oluwole, described as unnecessary the call for the dismissal of the INEC Chairman and other officials.

    He noted that Prof. Yakubu has taken significant steps to rectify past anomalies and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, saying these steps are pivotal in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

    In the statement which reads in part Oluwole said, “We are proud of the progress achieved under his leadership. We, therefore, question Baba Obasanjo’s stance, recalling his 2010 assertion that conducting an undisputed election in Nigeria was a herculean task.

    “We wonder why Baba Obasanjo, who acknowledged the difficulties of achieving a flawless electoral process 13 years ago, now expects perfection. Electoral reforms take time, and Prof. Yakubu’s efforts should be commended, not undermined.

    Read Also: Presidency: Obasanjo unfit to give leadership sermon

    “We want to also emphasize the Council’s confidence in Prof. Yakubu’s leadership, highlighting key reforms introduced during his tenure that have enhanced global confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system. These reforms include the implementation of measures to reduce electoral violence, such as mandating peace accords among parties and candidates at all levels of government.

    “The progress we have seen in Nigeria’s electoral process under Prof. Yakubu is undeniable. While the system is not yet perfect, the measures being implemented will significantly improve our democratic process over time. Dismissing him now would derail these efforts.

    “Yoruba Youth Council reaffirmed its solidarity with Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, passing a vote of confidence in his leadership.

    “We commend Prof. Yakubu for his unwavering dedication to democratic values and urge all Nigerians to support his efforts in building a credible and transparent electoral system. Sacrificing dedicated individuals like him will not solve the challenges of our electoral process. Instead, we must collectively work to eliminate corruption and foster progress.”

  • Presidency: Obasanjo unfit to give leadership sermon

    Presidency: Obasanjo unfit to give leadership sermon

    • Ex-President’s description of Nigeria as failing, govt incompetent attracts attack

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has no moral authority or competence to sermonise on good governance and effective leadership, the Presidency said yesterday.

    In a reaction to what Obasanjo said at the weekend, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga highlighted the misdeeds in Obasanjo’s years as military leader and president, saying he has taken self-righteousness too far.

    Delivering a keynote address at the weekend at Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, in Connecticut, United States, the former president said the country’s pervasive corruption and all other forms of iniquity confirmed Nigeria’s failing state status under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see through the consequences of our pervasive corruption, mediocrity, immorality, misconduct, mismanagement, perversion, injustice, incompetence, and all other forms of iniquity,” he said in his recorded lecture titled: ‘Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria.’

    But the Presidency said Obasanjo, who has a penchant for criticizing all his successors, got it all wrong.

    Onanuga described as ironic, that Obasanjo used the platform of a Chinua Achebe lecture to castigate the country and its government, whereas Achebe himself rejected the national honour bestowed on him in 2004 by the Obasanjo administration because “Nigeria’s condition today under your watch is…too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 honours list.”

    To buttress his claim that Obasanjo lacks the moral authority to give such sweeping remarks, Onanuga highlighted the flaws of Obasanjo and his government between 1999 and 2007 as follows:

    •Illegality, assault on Constitution

    •Failed economic policies

    •Neglect of critical infrastructure

    •Abuse of office

    •Organisation of sham 2007 general election

    •Neglect of security

    •Lack of Integrity; and

    •Widespread corruption 

    Onanuga advised Obasanjo who was military leader between 1976 and 1979 when he handed over to democratically elected President Shehu Shagari, to retrace his steps.

    Read Also: Nigeria a failed state under APC, says Obasanjo​

    He said:  “While the Tinubu administration diligently works to overcome the country’s economic challenges, it would be better and more advisable for former President Obasanjo to temper his self-righteousness in his public discussions regarding our nation’s temporary difficulties. Instead, his remaining years would be better spent reflecting on the missed opportunities during his own time in leadership, both as military head of state and civilian president.”

    The Onanuga statement reads: “In a recent display of his characteristic self-importance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo once again took to the public stage to bestow his unsolicited wisdom on leadership and governance in Nigeria. From his lofty perch, he blamed those who served after his tenure for the nation’s myriad of challenges.

    “Unfortunately, the former leader’s habit of casting aspersions on every subsequent administration has devolved into a recurring pastime, overshadowing the expectation of an elder statesman to join a constructive dialogue on attaining national progress.

     “In his latest critique of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he pejoratively called ‘Baba Go Slow’ and President Bola Tinubu, who he tagged ‘Emilokan’, Chief Obasanjo used the platform provided by Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University to unfurl his latest treatise on leadership and public morality. He also used the forum to write off Nigeria as a failing country.

    “The irony of Chief Obasanjo using the platform that celebrates Achebe to sermonise on the ideals of good governance, statecraft, economic management, and corruption should be apparent to discerning minds. When he was alive, Chinua Achebe was a universally acclaimed moral, cultural and literary icon with scant regard for Obasanjo.

    “It is on record that Professor Achebe rejected the third highest national honour bestowed on him by the Obasanjo-led administration in 2004 on the grounds of the prevalence of abuse of power, corruption, poor leadership, and, in particular, state-sponsored brigandage endorsed by Chief Obasanjo in Achebe’s home state of Anambra.

    “In Anambra, the former president actively supported the abduction of a sitting governor, Dr Chris Ngige, by non-state actors led by Chris Uba, a younger brother of Obasanjo’s senior aide.

    “In rejecting the 2004 national honour by the Obasanjo administration, Achebe declared: “Nigeria’s condition today under your watch is…too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 honours list.”

    Illegality, assault on Constitution

    “Brazen illegality and assault on the Constitution of Nigeria reached a disturbing height under the leadership of Chief Obasanjo.

    “During Obasanjo’s era, there was the unconstitutional impeachment of four governors who belonged to his party occurred. The governors impeached by minority members of the Houses of Assembly were Joshua Dariye of Plateau, Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa. A man under whose watch all of these egregious infractions occurred should certainly not be the one to give any lecture on leadership and corruption. He should not be taken seriously as he reeks of profound hypocrisy of the worst form.

    Failed economic policies

    “Former President Obasanjo has continuously pumped himself up as the economic wizard of Nigeria. But a reality check showed he was nothing of such. He left unresolved many, if not all, of the problems of Nigeria, which he itemised in his lecture. He even recently admitted that his government made a mistake by not focussing on gas development, as the Tinubu administration does today. All oil and gas players know that Nigeria has more gas than oil. The only positive of the Obasanjo era was fiscal and monetary policy management buoyed by a consistent rise in crude oil prices throughout his eight-year tenure. This rise in crude oil prices started in 2000 and peaked in 2013 when it reached over 100 dollars per barrel before a decline in 2014, which set the oil-dependent economy downward.

    “The current economic crisis the All Progressives Congress administrations have been battling since 2015 is the product of the poor choices in economic management made by Obasanjo and the two successors from his party. Obasanjo prides his government on paying the $15 billion debt owed to the Paris Club. Still, it was not a wise decision as it was done when the country’s critical economic infrastructure across sectors was in shambles.

    Neglect of critical infrastructure

    “While oil receipts brought money into the country, Obasanjo failed to fix the deplorable federal roads or expand the national road network. He did not repair the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Lagos-Abeokuta road leading to his hometown in Abeokuta, the Otta-Idiroko road, and many others.

    Abuse of office

    “His administration also should have paid more serious attention to universities and polytechnics. In a joint vote of no confidence in our tertiary institutions, Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, sought to profit from their weaknesses by establishing their private universities. As a sitting President, Chief Obasanjo abused his office to advance personal interest against the spirit and letters of our constitution when he corralled leading businessmen, women and government contractors to donate billions of naira for his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Resorts in Abeokuta and his Bell University in Otta.

    Sham 2007 elections

    “After wasting billions of naira on a failed third-term project in 2007, Chief Obasanjo hurriedly organised a sham electoral process that would go down in history as the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960. The beneficiary of the sham election, Umaru Yar’adua, admitted that the election was seriously flawed and, as Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel recommended, worked towards electoral reforms. It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

     Neglect of security

    “For eight years, the Obasanjo administration made no significant investment in security by modernising the Armed Forces. He did not redesign the national security architecture or change the military doctrine. The most critical investment in our armed forces, especially the military, since the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1980, was made by the APC-led administration of President Buhari from 2015-2023.

    “When President Buhari assumed office in 2015, the Air Force had fewer than three serviceable fighter jets, and the Navy barely had one serviceable vessel. Within eight years, President Buhari acquired over 40 new fighter jets of different capabilities, including 12 Tucano jets. He also acquired naval ships to strengthen the Navy. The APC administration of Buhari developed the air wings of the Army and Navy and changed the entire Armed Forces into one of the most potent fighting forces in the world.

    “President Tinubu has continued to sustain the same support and funding to the military and other security agencies. It is the reason the country is winning in the multi-pronged fight against Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other perpetrators of violent crimes. In the last year, over 400 terror and bandit kingpins have been eliminated, and thousands of Nigerians have been freed from their abductors.

    “The insecurity that engulfed Nigeria started under the Obasanjo administration with militancy and kidnapping of expatriate oil workers in the Niger Delta, which later became a festering wound from which the nation has not recovered. Boko Haram, which became a violent movement in 2009,  began its build-up under Obasanjo’s regime.

    Lack of integrity

    “On matters of integrity, honesty, and morality in public leadership, Chief Obasanjo is certainly not a paragon of virtue for anyone to model after. Nigerians can still remember the messy public spat between Chief Obasanjo and his then-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, over PTDF money that led to a Senate Public Hearing in 2004.

    :The sordid details of the public hearing included unsettling evidence of how Obasanjo instructed his Vice President to buy Sport Utility Vehicles for his mistresses with PTDF funds.

    “There was also the Halliburton bribe scandal, which the US Congress probe revealed. Bribe payments were made to the highest political authorities at the Villa while Obasanjo was in charge.

     Widespread corruption

    “Nigerians will also remember how the Obasanjo administration invested $16 billion on electricity, which left the country in utter darkness. The colossal amount spent on power was so embarrassing that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Obasanjo’s successor,  ordered a probe. Similarly, Obasanjo’s privatisation programme was scandalous. It did not deliver real value for the country. His administration cheaply sold national assets to cronies who stripped the assets of the state-owned enterprises. A case in point was the aluminium smelter company ALSCON in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, built by the military government at the princely sum of $ 3.2 billion. It was sold for 130 million dollars. Obasanjo also sank money into Turn Around Maintenance of our refineries, which never worked, leading to the massive importation of refined petroleum products.

    “Such was the miasma of corruption under Obasanjo that the former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, his party member, petitioned the EFCC, accusing Obasanjo of gross abuse of office.

    “If Chief Obasanjo had addressed the many problems he critiqued in his poorly written Yale lecture when he ruled Nigeria for eight years, President Buhari and President Tinubu would have had a much lighter burden of fixing the country.”

  • Nigeria a failed state under APC, says Obasanjo

    Nigeria a failed state under APC, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Nigeria as a “failed state” due to the policies of both former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.

    Speaking during a paper presentation at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in the United States, Obasanjo criticised the leadership of both men, attributing Nigeria’s state of chaos, insecurity, and underdevelopment to their administrations. In his keynote address, titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” which was pre-recorded and played at the event, Obasanjo refrained from naming the leaders directly but referenced them using nicknames given by their critics—“Baba-go-slow” for Buhari and “Emilokan” for Tinubu.

    “As we can see and understand, Nigeria’s situation is bad. The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, discord, division, disunity, depression, youth restiveness, confusion, violence, and underdevelopment. That’s the situation mostly in Nigeria in the reign of Baba-go-slow and Emilokan. The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see through the consequences of the level of our pervasive corruption, mediocrity, immorality, misconduct,

    Obasanjo also accused Nigerian politicians of compromising the judiciary, contributing to what he called a widespread “state capture.” He criticised the common response to electoral disputes, “go to court,” suggesting it reflects the judiciary’s compromised state. According to Obasanjo, “the judiciary in Nigeria is a very pale version of its once internationally esteemed self.” He went on to say that politicians, after rigging elections, confidently tell their opponents to “go to court” because they know the judiciary has been bought. “A number of judges are in the pockets of wealthy politicians and individuals, making judgments not based on law but to the highest bidder. This, my learned audience, is one of the most effective strategies of state capture — and it must be excised from Nigeria like a surgeon cutting out a malignant cancer,” Obasanjo stated.

    Read Also; Multichoice, multi-laments

    The former President also accused political elites of sabotaging Nigeria’s economy for personal gain, pointing to the acquisition of national assets at bargain prices and the allocation of resources—such as minerals, land, and human capital—to local and international actors. He called for robust local and international laws to prevent such practices, emphasizing that the purchase of national assets by political elites and their families must be prohibited.

    Without naming individuals, Obasanjo criticised the ongoing control exerted by former governors over their states long after leaving office, singling out one such case of a former governor who continues to hold sway over his state 25 years after his tenure ended. Obasanjo also condemned Nigerian politicians for exploiting the poverty and hunger in the country through “stomach infrastructure” politics, where food items packaged with the image of political candidates are distributed to gain votes. He lamented that destitute citizens are more likely to vote for politicians offering handouts, often funded by looted public money, rather than those offering long-term solutions to the country’s problems.

    He pointed out the high rate of out-of-school children, widespread insecurity, and systemic corruption, and urged Nigeria to adopt the virtues that have contributed to the progress of Southeast Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The event, attended by figures such as Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and former Minister Obi Ezekwesili, also featured Obasanjo’s participation in discussions on “Leadership and Democracy in Africa” and “The Future of Leadership in Africa.”

  • Presidential aide: Obasanjo’s assertion lacks credibility

    Presidential aide: Obasanjo’s assertion lacks credibility

    • North’s groups slam ex-president’s criticism of INEC

    The Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare, yesterday dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assertion that Nigeria has failed under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations.

    Dare said Obasanjo’s assertion lacked credibility.

    In a post on his verified X account, @SundayDareSD, Dare said the former president’s comments are undermined by his own controversial tenure, which was marked by contentious policies and governance practices.

    The Presidency’s rebuttal underscores the escalating political discourse surrounding Obasanjo’s outspoken critique of the current administration.

    Read Also; In defence of Wike on Abuja demolitions

    “Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it,” Dare said in the message, adding “his journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt, as has his descent into muddling facts, forgetting that he ran a Presidency on record as the most corrupt.”

    Citing alleged corruption and governance failures during Obasanjo’s tenure, Dare accused the former president of hypocrisy.

     “It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in the eyes of the general public. We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16 billion in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation,” Dare said.

     Dare accused Obasanjo of undermining Nigeria’s democracy during his tenure. He lambasted Obasanjo’s legacy, citing his controversial third-term agenda as a low point that inflicted “mortal wounds” on democracy.

    “Democracy suffered grievously under Obasanjo’s watch, capped by his ill-fated third-term bid. Successive administrations have been cleaning up his mess, and President Tinubu is now making tangible progress,” Dare said.

    He  argued that Obasanjo lacks the moral authority to critique others, urging him to apologize for governance failures.

    “Instead of criticizing, Obasanjo should reflect on his tenure and acknowledge his role in Nigeria’s challenges,” Dare said. He praised Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” emphasising the administration’s focus on reforms to restore Nigeria’s trajectory.

    Quoting a Yoruba proverb, Dare underscored the administration’s resolve amidst criticism: “In this market called Nigeria, the man with the renewed hope agenda is the one that matters. Everything else is ariwo oja—just market noise.” Concluding, Dare welcomed Obasanjo’s acknowledgment of hope for Nigeria while urging him to engage constructively. “The Renewed Hope Agenda is on track. If Obasanjo wants to join the conversation for a better Nigeria, we are ready,” he said.

    Also yesterday, the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has rejected former President Obasanjo’s recent attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, calling his remarks hypocritical.

    In a statement, NAN Chairman Salihu Suleiman stated: “It is ironic for Obasanjo, who once claimed that even Jesus Christ couldn’t ensure credible elections during his time in office, to now accuse the government of electoral failure. His own record on electoral integrity remains deeply questionable.”

    “During his time in office, there were numerous reports of irregularities, violence, and rigging in elections. He himself has admitted to manipulating elections to ensure victory for his preferred candidates. In light of this, it is difficult to take his criticisms of the current government seriously.

    “It is important to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and decisions. However, it is hypocritical for someone like Obasanjo, who has presided over flawed elections in the past, to now point fingers at others. If he truly cared about the integrity of the electoral process, he should reflect on his own past actions and work towards ensuring free and fair elections for all Nigerians.”

    NAN argued that it is deeply troubling for a leader who once presided over a system plagued by corruption and electoral malpractice to now position himself as a self-appointed authority on electoral integrity. The statement raised pertinent questions about the moral authority he claims to possess in critiquing the current administration’s governance.

    “Obasanjo’s tenure was not merely a passage of time; it was a period during which the very foundations of Nigeria’s electoral processes were laid. His administration witnessed elections marred by irregularities, where results were announced even as voters stood in queues. Such actions not only undermined the democratic ethos but also institutionalized corruption in the political fabric of Nigeria. For the former president to now label the 2023 elections a “travesty” is not only exaggerated but also a glaring display of cognitive dissonance.

    “The essence of leadership lies in accountability. It is imperative for leaders to acknowledge their legacies, both good and bad. Obasanjo’s presidency was marked by a lack of significant electoral reforms, which he now decries in the current administration. During his time in office, he did not prioritize the establishment of a robust electoral commission, nor did he advocate for transparency in the electoral process. Instead, he appears to have turned a blind eye to the very issues that plague the electoral system today.

    “Moreover, Obasanjo’s administration was characterised by a manual electoral process, often fraught with inefficiencies and opportunities for manipulation. His criticisms of the current commission’s reliance on technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), seem misplaced.”

    “The transition to a more technologically advanced electoral system is a complex endeavor that requires foresight, resources, and a commitment to reform—qualities that were conspicuously absent during his presidency. Corruption is a pervasive issue that has plagued Nigeria for decades. Obasanjo’s involvement in institutionalising corruption cannot be overlooked.’’

    “His presidency was marked by allegations of financial impropriety, including accusations of using public funds for personal projects, such as the construction of his presidential library on his farm. The infamous “Ghana-must-go” bags filled with money that were allegedly used to influence members of the National Assembly further tarnish his legacy. These actions raise a fundamental question: how can a leader who has so actively participated in corrupt practices now seek to lecture others on governance and integrity?”

  • Obasanjo not an ideal leader to emulate, says Presidency

    Obasanjo not an ideal leader to emulate, says Presidency

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has come under sharp criticism following his recent remarks on leadership and governance in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, the former leader alleged that subsequent administrations had failed the nation, describing Nigeria as a “failing country.”

    However, a statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took issue with Obasanjo’s comments, labeling them as hypocritical and undeserving of emulation.

    The statement accused Obasanjo of a legacy marred by constitutional violations, corruption, and poor leadership during his time in office.

    “Brazen illegality and assault on the Constitution of Nigeria reached a disturbing height under the leadership of Chief Obasanjo,” Onanuga said, citing the unconstitutional impeachment of four state governors and allegations of corruption, including misuse of public funds and involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

    Onanuga also criticized Obasanjo’s handling of Nigeria’s economic resources.

    While acknowledging the fiscal benefits of high crude oil prices during Obasanjo’s tenure, the statement argued that these opportunities were squandered.

    Key criticisms included neglecting national infrastructure, leaving federal roads in disrepair, and failing to address the country’s power crisis despite spending $16 billion on electricity projects.

    “Obasanjo failed to fix the deplorable federal roads or expand the national road network,” the statement read, listing uncompleted projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    It also accused him of prioritizing personal interests, such as advancing private enterprises like his university and presidential library, funded through questionable donations.

    Obasanjo’s privatization efforts were also criticized as benefiting cronies at the expense of national interests.

    Onanuga highlighted the controversial sale of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) for a fraction of its value as a prime example.

    The statement further condemned Obasanjo’s third-term bid, which was described as a “failed project” that wasted billions of naira.

    It argued that the flawed electoral process he oversaw in 2007 undermines his credibility to comment on governance and electoral integrity.

    Read Also: Presidency slams Obasanjo over criticism of Tinubu’s administration

    Additionally, Obasanjo was accused of neglecting national security during his administration, leaving the armed forces underfunded and ill-equipped.

    The statement credited subsequent All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations with modernizing Nigeria’s military and improving security infrastructure.

    The statement concluded by urging Obasanjo to focus on introspection rather than criticism.

    “His remaining years would be better spent reflecting on the missed opportunities during his own time in leadership, both as military head of state and civilian president,” Onanuga asserted.

  • Presidency slams Obasanjo over criticism of Tinubu’s administration

    Presidency slams Obasanjo over criticism of Tinubu’s administration

    The Presidency has strongly criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, dismissing his recent remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as insincere and misguided.

    The response from the Presidency follows Obasanjo’s comments made at Yale University in the United States, where he reportedly criticised the current administration.

    In his keynote address last Saturday at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, held at Yale University, Obasanjo, among many other uncomplimentary remarks, claimed that Nigeria has become a failing state under Tinubu’s watch.

    However, reacting to the former President’s comments, Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare, in a message he posted on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, said Obasanjo’s statements lack credibility, given his own controversial legacy as president.

    “Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it,” Dare said in the message, adding “his journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt, as has his descent into muddling facts, forgetting that he ran a Presidency on record as the most corrupt.”

    Citing alleged corruption and governance failures during Obasanjo’s tenure, Dare accused the former president of hypocrisy.

    “It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in the eyes of the general public. We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16 billion in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation”, Dare said.

    Dare further argued that Obasanjo’s leadership inflicted lasting harm on Nigeria’s democracy, referencing the controversial third-term agenda that marked the latter part of his presidency.

    “Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, only capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated third term. Successive administrations struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind, which President Tinubu is now making progress with,” he said.

    The adviser suggested that Obasanjo should apologize to Nigerians for his governance failures instead of criticizing others, saying “Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government. He should apologize to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance.”

    Using a Yoruba proverb, Dare underscored the administration’s focus amidst the noise, saying “the Yoruba proverb, ‘A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo,’ means you shouldn’t pay heed to the market’s noise but focus on the person you are negotiating with.

    “In this market called Nigeria, the man with the renewed hope agenda is the one that matters. Everything else is ariwo oja [market noise]”, he said.

    Read Also: Democracy suffered mortal wounds under Obasanjo — Presidency

    Dare praised Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and emphasized the administration’s commitment to reforms, saying “President Tinubu will stay the course in seeing through the reforms he has instituted for a better Nigeria”.

    Concluding his remarks, Dare urged Obasanjo to reflect on his own role in Nigeria’s challenges.

    “Obasanjo should take time off this habit of pulling down leaders, especially his successors, and try to interrogate himself on how he has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigerian nation, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now spiritedly battling to put back on track,” he said.

    Dare, however, welcomed Obasanjo’s acknowledgment that “there is hope” for Nigeria, saying “that’s the Renewed Hope Agenda President Tinubu is about, and it’s on track. We are happy to have that conversation with the former president”.

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo faults Obasanjo over calls to sack INEC boss

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo faults Obasanjo over calls to sack INEC boss

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has chided former President Olusegun Obasanjo for calling for the dismissal of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    It should be recalled that Obasanjo during his speech at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, USA, recently called for the sacking of the head of the nation’s electoral umpire.

    Miffed by what it described as a move ill-advised, politically motivated, lacking any substantive merit or ethical grounding, the group in a statement issued by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, secretary general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said Obasanjo’s historical record as a leader overseeing Nigeria’s electoral processes reveals a troubling legacy.

    In the statement which reads in part, Isiguzoro said: “The elections conducted under his administration in 2003 and 2007 have been universally condemned as the worst in Nigerian history by local and international observers alike. These elections are etched in our memory as benchmarks of electoral malpractice, where the institutional integrity of INEC was severely compromised and the public’s trust in democratic processes eroded.

    “It is indeed paradoxical for Mr. Obasanjo to seek the removal of Professor Yakubu when his presidency played a pivotal role in institutionalising irregularities and corruption within the electoral system. The troubling trajectory of INEC during Obasanjo’s tenure from 2003 to 2007 culminated in a third-term bid that ultimately failed, exposing the depths of political manipulation prevalent at the time.

    “Former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s candid admission post-election in 2007 that the electoral process was fundamentally flawed starkly underscores the urgency for reform—a mission he initiated before his tragic passing in 2010. His successor, Goodluck Jonathan, further expanded upon these reforms, emphasising the necessity for integrity in our electoral framework. In this context, it is incumbent upon all citizens to recognise that Mr. Obasanjo’s recent statements are thus laden with political undertones that undermine his credibility in advocating for electoral integrity today.

    Read Also: Democracy suffered mortal wounds under Obasanjo — Presidency

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo posits that it is fundamentally premature and ill-timed for anyone to call for the sack of Professor Mahmood Yakubu while he is still in office, especially because his tenure is set to conclude in 2025. We advocate for a period of stability and completion of ongoing reforms, suggesting that discussions around the future leadership and structure of INEC should commence only after Yakubu’s term has expired.

    “Our organization’s position on this matter is clear: Nigeria’s electoral reforms should be approached with a spirit of collaboration and foresight, particularly as we look toward the end of Professor Yakubu’s tenure. We expect that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take decisive and judicious steps toward transforming INEC, with the robust support of the National Assembly, thereby fortifying the electoral landscape in Nigeria for all citizens.

    “Furthermore, we commend the advancements that INEC has made thus far under the leadership of Professor Yakubu. The implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) during off-cycle elections in states such as Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa, Edo, and Ondo stands as a testament to a commitment to transparency and accountability. These developments have begun to restore public confidence in the electoral process, allowing for a more engaged and informed electorate.

    “In conclusion, we urge all stakeholders to approach the delicate issue of electoral integrity with seriousness and diligence. Let us focus our efforts on constructive dialogue, enhanced cooperation, and the challenges we must overcome collectively rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric that ultimately detracts from the progress we seek.”

  • Obasanjo’s comment on Tinubu mischievous, says Afenifere chief

    Obasanjo’s comment on Tinubu mischievous, says Afenifere chief

    The National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Kole Omololu, has said President Bola Tinubu’s short stay in office has shown signs of outperforming former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s record.

    The chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation said in a statement yesterday that the emerging gains of the president’s economic reforms gave hope that the nation was on a trajectory of recovery, growth, and development.

    Omololu, in reaction to Obasanjo’s claim on Saturday that Nigeria had become a failing state under President Tinubu, said the former president’s assertion was incorrect given the increasing gains being made under the president.

    Delivering a keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, at the weekend in Connecticut, USA, the former president, in his recorded lecture titled, ‘Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria, said the country’s pervasive corruption, mediocrity, immorality, misconduct, mismanagement, perversion, injustice, incompetence, and all other forms of iniquity confirmed Nigeria’s failing state status under the president.

    However, Omololu said Obasanjo’s conclusions were inaccurate and mischief from the former president’s habitual attention-seeking. 

    “This is typical Obasanjo grandstanding. As the late President Shehu Shagari wrote about him in his autobiography, ‘Beckoned To Serve,’ Obasanjo is an egotistical narcissist who cannot stand not being the centre of attention and the cynosure of all eyes. He will engage in serial acts of incitement to attract the spotlight to himself,” he stated.

    Saying Obasanjo had persistently criticised his successors unduly, Omololu contended that Tinubu’s managerial, moral and anti-corruption records were shoulder above the former president’s.

    Read Also: VP Shettima, Obasanjo, Atiku others grace Kwankwaso’s daughter’s wedding in Kano

    The Afenifere chieftain said the president’s economic reforms, including the withdrawal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex rates, were bold measures the former president did not have the courage to take while in office. 

    He said these measures had shored up the nation’s revenue and helped it to reduce its debt service ratio from 97% to 65% of income within 17 months.

    He added that Nigeria, under Tinubu, had achieved a new record in its trade balance, with an unprecedented N14.07 trillion trade surplus by half-year 2024, pointing out that the administration’s non-oil revenue in one quarter was more than the total generated during Obasanjo’s eight years in office.

    Omololu queried, “How can President Obasanjo talk of mismanagement when, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, the Nigerian Stock Exchange crossed 104,562.06 All Shares Index, a 39.84% increase year-to-date, making it the second-best performing exchange in Africa?”

    The Afenifere chieftain also disputed the former president’s assessment of the president’s anti-corruption record, stating that the top global transparency rating agency, Transparency International, reported a more positive evaluation.

    “Transparency International says Nigeria is less corrupt today than during the Obasanjo administration,” he said, adding, “Nigeria improved on TI’s Corruption Perception Rating this year, moving five places from 150 in 2023 to 145 in 2024. In contrast, under Obasanjo, Nigeria was rated the second-most corrupt nation in the world, with only Bangladesh ahead of us in 2002. Out of 102 nations, Nigeria was number 101.”

    Omololu pointed out that Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, publicly exposed themselves via a nasty public exchange exposing their dirty dealings.

    Omololu said Obasanjo, who could not manage his deputy, Atiku, lacked the moral authority to accuse Tinubu of immorality and mismanagement.

     “If you could not manage your Presidency, what moral authority do you have to call the man who has managed his government and party with almost military efficiency a mediocre?” he queried.