The Presidency recently attributed Nigeria’s economic struggles to what it described as “poor economic decisions” made under the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.
This assertion was made public in a statement on Monday, November 18, by presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga. His comments came in response to criticisms by Obasanjo against the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Onanuga, the economic challenges facing Nigeria since 2015—when the All Progressives Congress (APC) assumed power—are largely the consequence of ineffective economic management by previous administrations. He emphasized that policies implemented under Obasanjo and his two successors contributed significantly to the current financial strain the nation is facing.
Onanuga’s statement included pointed criticisms of Obasanjo’s tenure, particularly his handling of infrastructure development. He accused Obasanjo of failing to repair or expand key federal roads, despite substantial oil revenues that could have funded these improvements. “Despite high oil receipts during his administration, Obasanjo neglected to repair major federal roads like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Lagos-Abeokuta Road, the Otta-Idiroko Road, and many others,” Onanuga remarked. The Presidency argued that these neglected infrastructure projects have had lasting negative effects on the nation’s economy.
Further, the statement criticized Obasanjo’s approach to higher education, suggesting that federal universities and polytechnics suffered from neglect under his leadership. Onanuga highlighted what he called a “conflict of interest,” claiming that both Obasanjo and his vice president, Atiku Abubakar, took advantage of the weakened state of public universities by establishing their own private institutions. “Instead of addressing the challenges in public higher education, Obasanjo and Atiku focused on building their own private universities,” Onanuga stated.
Additionally, the Presidency accused Obasanjo of using his position as President to serve personal interests. The statement highlighted allegations that Obasanjo gathered significant financial support from top business figures and government contractors to fund personal projects, including the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Bell University in Otta. According to Onanuga, this action violated the spirit of the constitution by leveraging public office for private gain.
The presidency’s response underlines ongoing tensions between the Tinubu administration and previous leaders, as it continues to address the economic challenges Nigeria faces.
