Kole Omololu, National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, recently responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of Nigeria’s current state under President Bola Tinubu. During a speech at Yale University, Obasanjo described Nigeria as a “failing state,” citing issues like corruption and incompetence. However, Omololu dismissed these claims, emphasizing the positive impacts of Tinubu’s reforms and accusing Obasanjo of being a habitual attention-seeker.
Defense of Tinubu’s Reforms
Omololu highlighted key economic changes under Tinubu’s leadership, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates. These moves, according to Omololu, have boosted Nigeria’s revenue and reduced the country’s debt service ratio from 97% to 65% within 17 months. He also noted that the Nigerian Stock Exchange saw significant growth, ranking as one of Africa’s top-performing exchanges, which contradicts Obasanjo’s critical assessment.
Transparency and Corruption Ratings
Omololu further defended Tinubu’s administration by referencing Transparency International’s (TI) reports, indicating a slight improvement in Nigeria’s corruption perception. He compared this to Obasanjo’s tenure, pointing out that during Obasanjo’s administration, Nigeria was once ranked as the second-most corrupt nation globally. Omololu argued that Tinubu’s management and anti-corruption record were superior, both morally and operationally.
Personal Criticism of Obasanjo
In addition to defending Tinubu, Omololu did not shy away from personal criticism of Obasanjo, referencing conflicts Obasanjo had with his then-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as a sign of failed leadership. Omololu suggested that Obasanjo’s history of discord within his administration undermines his credibility to critique Tinubu’s governance.
This exchange illustrates the deep political divisions in Nigeria, with Omololu positioning Tinubu’s policies as a bold break from past administrations, while challenging Obasanjo’s legacy and authority to comment on the current state of the nation.
News Editor