Last week, the Presidency attacked former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his claim that corruption has reached a fatal stage in Nigeria.
The Presidency also faulted Obasanjo’s call for the sacking of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over his conduct of the 2023 election which he (Obasanjo) described as a travesty.
In issues he raised penultimate Sunday in his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America, the ex-President canvassed for shorter tenures for INEC officials and a more rigorous vetting process to prevent the appointment of partisan individuals.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office, asserting that corruption continues to rank among the most important problems affecting Nigerians.
The elder statesman said, “More than N700 billion in cash bribes were paid by citizens to public officials in 2023. Most bribes are paid in the street or a public official’s office.
“Private sector bribery is increasing but continues to be less prevalent than in the public sector. Corruption goes with power; therefore, to hold any useful discussion of corruption, we must first locate it where it properly belongs – in the ranks of the powerful.
“Corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage, and Nigeria will die if we keep pretending that she is only slightly indisposed.’’
“He has become a strong voice both locally and internationally on issues affecting the development of democracy and global affairs. Without a shadow of a doubt, Obasanjo’s well-deserved place in history is assured.”
However, in a pushback on Monday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the former President had no moral grounds to criticise INEC, having presided over what he called “the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960.”
Onanuga said, “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.”
Be that as it may, it is on record that when a roll is called of heroes of Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo will surely answer aye. And rightly so.
As a former military Head of State as well as civilian president lately, he gave the best of what he had to offer.
In and out of government, he has always shown his preparedness to make any sacrifice that would sustain the unity of the country. With a toga of rabid nationalism, he remains irrevocably committed to the oneness of the Nigerian project.
Obasanjo is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as an elected president from 1999 to 2007.
For his strong character, he remains the most visible leader in the political arena, while also maintaining international respectability.
He has continually been making strong impacts and interventions in numerous political issues in Nigeria and internationally.
Obasanjo’s accomplishments as Nigeria’s President on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party are legendary.
The Obasanjo Presidency (from 1999 to 2007), stabilised Nigeria’s democracy, depoliticised the military, restored Nigeria’s global reputation and leadership.
He also reformed the banking sector, cleared off Nigeria’s debts, revolutionised the telecommunication industry just as he successfully privatised moribund public enterprises and institutionalised the fight against corruption.
When he came in as a democratic president in 1999, Nigeria was serving debt at a huge sum of $3.5 billion, with a total of about $36 billion debt burden, while the reserve had a balance of about $3.7 billion.
He was able to clear the debts by securing a relief. He left a sum of $45 billion in the reserves and $25 billion in the excess crude account.
It is unarguable that the former president lived for Nigeria and gave the best of his years to the sustenance of the unity and democratic development of the country.
Both as a military head of state and a civilian president, Obasanjo’s belief in the supremacy of democracy remained unshaken.
Even in retirement, his voice continues to reverberate on issues of national and global importance.
Obasanjo has become a living legend. He stands tall in the hall of fame of the greatest African leaders. His life has become a living encyclopedia of the history of our country.
He has become a strong voice both locally and internationally on issues affecting the development of democracy and global affairs. Without a shadow of a doubt, Obasanjo’s well-deserved place in history is assured.
To keep the country in peace, Obasanjo safeguarded the lives and properties of this great African nation. Above all, he strengthened the bond of Nigeria’s unity.
To date, Obasanjo has remained Nigeria’s most accomplished statesman who has verified track records of achievements both nationally and internationally.
The whole of Nigeria is the locus of Obasanjo’s operation. Since he handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979, Obasanjo has been concerned about the Nigerian project, even if in a curious sense.
Whether you like him or not, Obasanjo has never been intimidated not to pass his messages and take a walk off the podium.
If his views are studied with a broad mind, Nigerians are bound to pick invaluable points therein because he doesn’t speak for the sake of it.
Obasanjo does this with intellectual depth, passion, and, above all, patriotism.
That is why he will remain relevant till tomorrow. His engagement of very sensitive global issues with courage and power of articulation has won him both recognition and respect at international fora where there are former and serving presidents listening to him with rapt attention.
Obasanjo remains an influential figure in the nation’s polity that cannot be ignored by any aspiring or incumbent president.
