In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo acknowledged that while the policies initiated by Tinubu were necessary, their implementation was flawed. He made these remarks at a colloquium in Abuja titled “Nigeria’s Development: Navigating the Way Out of the Current Economic Crisis and Insecurity.”
“Today, the government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented and have led to the impoverishment of the economy and of Nigerians. These are the removal of subsidy, closing the gap between the black market and official rates of exchange, and the third is dealing with a military coup in Niger Republic,” Obasanjo said.
This marks the first time Obasanjo has publicly criticized Tinubu, whom he did not support in the presidential election.
In response, APC National Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks, suggesting that the former President might be showing signs of senility. Ibrahim argued that Obasanjo has a history of criticizing subsequent administrations since his failed bid for a third term in office.
“As a Nigerian and someone who respects Obasanjo, I think senility is beginning to come in. Obasanjo is beginning to manifest the symptoms,” Ibrahim told The PUNCH. “Ever since he lost the bid to have a third term in office, he has consistently attacked every regime that comes after him. He sees himself as the only one who meant well for Nigeria from independence to date. He thinks he is the best and every other leader is bad. And this is not good for a statesman. Nobody has a monopoly on knowledge or style of leadership.”
Ibrahim further noted that Obasanjo has been a consistent critic of Nigerian leaders, including former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. “He himself did not fare better when he was the leader. In fact, Obasanjo superintended the balkanization of the Nigerian economy,” Ibrahim added.
The APC National Director defended Tinubu’s efforts to improve the Nigerian economy, stating that Obasanjo’s criticisms were misplaced. “How can he say someone who is trying to put the economy on a better pedestal is not doing the right thing? I am not a spokesman for Tinubu. Even though the party has discussed him to my knowledge, I practically feel Obasanjo has erred as he has always been doing.”
