The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to criticism from former President Olusegun Obasanjo regarding the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Obasanjo’s comments, made in his recently launched book “Nigeria: Past and Future,” described Tinubu’s government as “competing with Buhari in incompetence.” The APC characterized Obasanjo’s remarks as “laughable, hypocritical, and undeserving of serious attention.”
In his book, Obasanjo also referred to the Muhammadu Buhari administration as “the worst civil administration in Nigeria’s history” and suggested that Tinubu’s government is following a similar path. The APC’s Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, dismissed Obasanjo’s criticism as an unmerited attack, pointing out that Obasanjo’s own tenure was marked by “arrogance, wasted opportunities, and repeated attempts to undermine democracy.”
The APC argued that President Tinubu has demonstrated political will by implementing reforms that previous governments, including Obasanjo’s, failed to attempt. These reforms include removing fuel subsidies, reforming the foreign exchange market, and addressing inefficiencies. The party contended that these actions are not signs of incompetence, but rather bold steps towards rebuilding Nigeria.
The Lagos APC also accused Obasanjo of harboring bitterness and a history of undermining sitting leaders when he no longer holds influence. The party noted that Obasanjo’s tenure was marked by significant corruption and mismanagement, including billions of dollars disappearing in the power sector and the economy sinking deeper into debt.
The APC called on Obasanjo to exercise restraint, suggesting that at his age, he should be offering wisdom rather than fueling discord. The party emphasized that President Tinubu is focused on steering the country towards recovery and is not in competition with Obasanjo or any past leader.
The current administration’s commitment to reform and renewal is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s long-standing challenges, which the APC argued did not begin with Buhari and are not worsening under Tinubu. The party stated that much of the country’s problems can be traced back to Obasanjo’s own tenure, and that the current administration is working to address these issues despite opposition from “yesterday’s men.”
