Obasanjo breaks silence, reveals his stance on Tinubu’s govt ahead of 2027 elections

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing Nigeria under his leadership as a failing state characterized by pervasive corruption and leadership failure.

In his latest critique of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he pejoratively called ‘Baba Go Slow’ and President Bola Tinubu, who he tagged ‘Emilokan’, Chief Obasanjo used the platform provided by Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University to unfurl his latest treatise on leadership and public morality. He also used the forum to write off Nigeria as a failing country.

Obasanjo’s remarks have drawn sharp rebukes from government officials, including presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who dismissed the former president’s comments as unsolicited and hypocritical. Onanuga argued that Obasanjo is not an ideal leader to lecture on governance, citing historical controversies during his own tenure.

The former president also recently accused the current administration of impoverishing Nigerians through the devaluation of the naira, claiming that economic reforms initiated in 2023 have turned the nation into the “poverty capital of the world.” These comments were made during the Financial Times Africa Summit 2026 in London.

The administration has defended its record, with APC spokespersons and government allies asserting that President Tinubu is addressing deep-seated structural issues left by previous governments, including those that served under Obasanjo. As the 2027 general elections approach, the political discourse remains highly polarized, with Obasanjo’s interventions serving as a significant point of contention between the ruling party and its critics.