‘Obasanjo Ran a Presidency on Record as the Most Corrupt’ – Sunday Dare
The Presidency has labeled the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history, following his recent remarks at Yale University. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described Obasanjo’s comments as insincere and hypocritical, accusing him of leaving a legacy of corruption and failed leadership.
“Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it,” Dare said in a statement. “His journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt. Let’s not forget he ran the most corrupt presidency on record.”
During his keynote address on Saturday at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, the former President claimed that “the world can see and understand, Nigeria’s situation is bad.”
“Nigeria’s situation, as we can see and understand, 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,” Obasanjo said.
He continued; “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, mismanagement, perversion, injustice, incompetence and all other forms of iniquity.”
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In his response, Dare specifically criticised Obasanjo’s anti-corruption posturing, pointing to unresolved questions surrounding the $16 billion spent on power projects during his tenure.
“It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in the eyes of the general public,” Dare added. “We all know what happened under his watch—megawatts of darkness across the nation and no explanation to date.”
The statement also lambasted Obasanjo’s democratic credentials, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s democracy through his controversial third-term agenda. “Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, only capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated third term,” Dare said.
Dare contrasted Obasanjo’s legacy with President Tinubu’s administration, claiming that Tinubu is making strides to address the mess left behind.
“Successive administrations have struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind. President Tinubu is now making progress and remains focused on bringing relief to Nigerians,” he said.
In a Yoruba proverb-laden admonition, Dare urged Nigerians to disregard Obasanjo’s criticisms, likening them to “ariwo oja” (market noise).
“The man with the Renewed Hope Agenda is the one that matters,” he said, adding that Tinubu’s government is committed to reforms aimed at a better Nigeria.
Dare also called on Obasanjo to reflect on his role in Nigeria’s challenges rather than criticizing his successors.
“Obasanjo should take time off this habit of pulling down leaders and interrogate himself on how he contributed to the parlous state of the nation,” he said.
