Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has responded sharply to recent criticisms from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of perpetuating mischief and distorting facts in his comments.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dare defended President Tinubu’s administration and reaffirmed its commitment to progress, asserting that successive Nigerian governments, including Tinubu’s, have been working hard to clean up the “mess” left by Obasanjo’s tenure.
The presidential aides’ remarks came in response to a recent speech by Obasanjo at Yale University, where the former president criticised the current administration’s handling of governance.
According to Dare, Obasanjo’s criticisms lack sincerity and are undermined by his own controversial legacy. He pointed out that Obasanjo’s administration left Nigeria with serious challenges, particularly in the area of power generation, where $16 billion was allegedly wasted on projects that failed to provide electricity for the country.
“It is laughable that Obasanjo, who presided over one of the most corrupt governments in Nigeria’s history, now positions himself as a champion of anti-corruption,” Dare wrote. “He conveniently forgets how his own administration failed to deliver on critical infrastructure, leaving Nigeria with a staggering power deficit. There has been no explanation for how billions were spent to generate ‘megawatts of darkness.’”
Dare also took issue with Obasanjo’s claim about democracy in Nigeria, asserting that Obasanjo’s own actions contributed to the weakening of democratic institutions.
He highlighted the former president’s controversial attempt to extend his presidency through a failed third-term bid, which he said inflicted lasting damage on Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated third term,” Dare continued. “Successive administrations, including President Tinubu’s, have been working tirelessly to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind. Today, Nigeria is finally making progress under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
The Special Adviser also called for Obasanjo to reflect on his own contributions to the current state of Nigeria, urging him to reconsider his stance on his successors.
“Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government.
“He should apologise to Nigerians for failing to lay the foundational infrastructure that the country so desperately needed to advance,” Dare stated.
Dare’s comments were punctuated by a Yoruba proverb: “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo”—which translates as, “You shouldn’t pay heed to the market’s noise; instead, focus on the person you are negotiating with.”
Dare emphasised that the noise Obasanjo was making was nothing more than “market noise,” and that the real focus should be on the tangible progress being made by President Tinubu’s administration through its Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his closing remarks, Dare acknowledged Obasanjo’s recent statement that “Yes, there is hope,” agreeing that this sentiment aligns with the goals of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria was on the right path under Tinubu’s leadership and encouraged the former president to join in the conversation about the country’s future.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has asserted that President Tinubu is doing everything possible to chart a way to move a lot of Nigerians out of poverty.
The assertion was made by the minister during the opening ceremony of the 2024 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) conference, in Bauchi on Monday.
According to him, “President Tinubu’s administration inherited assets and liabilities and there was no looking back but it’s a question of charting a way of looking forward and making plans in order to, first of all, stabilise the economy.
“He is working hard to get investments through private sector investors both domestically and foreign direct investors to increase the productivity of Nigeria, grow the economy, create jobs and of course move a large number of people out of poverty.”
The minister added, “When you try to look at where we are now, essentially, the major macroeconomic reforms are in place.”
The Minister assured that the road is clear for private sector investors and that the country is back in business on the road to industrialisation based on what is happening in the petroleum refining sector.
This, he said, would make it possible not only for them to produce competitively for the domestic market but also to export.
Bauchi governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir said that hosting the event is a privilege and has proven the importance of collaboration in addressing the economic challenges and opportunities before the country.
The theme of the conference is: Fostering Economic Growth in Challenging Times: Strategies for Policies and Partnership for Fiscal Sustainability & National Development.
Meanwhile, , the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has faulted former President Obasanjo’s criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, describing his comments as hypocritical.
In a statement issued by its chairman, Salihu Suleiman, NAN said: “It is indeed shameless for Obasanjo, “who admitted during his own period of electoral malfeasance that even Jesus Christ cannot conduct credible elections in Nigeria, to now accuse the government of failing in this regard.
“Obasanjo’s track record on electoral integrity is questionable, to say the least.
“During his time in office, there were numerous reports of irregularities, violence, and rigging in elections. 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 presided over flawed elections in the past, to now point fingers at others. If he truly cares 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.”
It noted that Obasanjo, during his time in office, did not prioritise the establishment of a robust electoral commission, nor did he advocate for transparency in the electoral process.
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