The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rebuked former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s handling of ongoing reforms and the coup d’état in Niger Republic.
Obasanjo criticized Tinubu’s implementation of the removal of petroleum product subsidies and the floating of the naira, noting that while necessary, these policies were poorly executed. In recent months, these reforms have led to increased food prices and inflation, causing widespread public discontent.
In a statement on Sunday, Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, conveyed the former president’s views expressed at a colloquium in Abuja titled “Nigeria’s Development: Navigating the Way Out of the Current Economic Crisis and Insecurity.” Obasanjo stated, “The government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented, leading to the impoverishment of the economy and Nigerians. These include the removal of subsidies, closing the gap between black market and official exchange rates, and dealing with a military coup in Niger Republic.”
This marked Obasanjo’s first public criticism of Tinubu, whom he did not support for the presidency. In response, APC National Director Bala Ibrahim described Obasanjo as a serial critic, suggesting that the former president may be showing signs of old age.
“As a Nigerian and someone who respects Obasanjo, I think senility is beginning to come in,” Ibrahim said in an interview with The PUNCH. “Ever since he lost the bid for a third term in office, he has consistently attacked every regime that comes after him. He sees himself as the only one who means well for Nigeria from independence to date.”
Ibrahim noted that Obasanjo has a history of criticizing Nigerian leaders, including former Presidents Buhari and Jonathan. He argued that Obasanjo’s own tenure was marked by significant economic challenges, questioning how he could criticize Tinubu’s efforts to improve the economy.
“Obasanjo has been consistent in his criticisms of leadership, apart from himself. President Bola Tinubu is not the first to be attacked by Obasanjo. Buhari and Jonathan were also victims of his criticisms. He himself did not fare better when he was the leader. In fact, Obasanjo oversaw the balkanization of the Nigerian economy,” Ibrahim stated. “How can he say someone who is trying to put the economy on a better pedestal is not doing the right thing? I am not a spokesman for Tinubu, but I feel Obasanjo has erred, as he has always done.”