The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a blistering response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, dismissing his criticism of President Bola Tinubu as “hypocritical” and “unworthy of serious attention.”
Obasanjo, in his newly published memoir Nigeria: Past and Future, accused the Tinubu administration of “competing with Buhari in incompetence.” The book, which was unveiled in March to mark his 88th birthday, also described former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government as “the worst civil administration in Nigeria’s history.”
Reacting on Tuesday, APC Lagos spokesperson Seye Oladejo condemned the remarks, portraying them as a misplaced attack from a leader whose time in office, he argued, was riddled with failings.
“It is ironic that a leader whose tenure was marked by arrogance, wasted opportunities, and repeated attempts to undermine democracy now seeks to lecture others on competence,” Oladejo said.
He maintained that President Tinubu had demonstrated strong political will by implementing reforms Obasanjo himself failed to attempt.
“Removing fuel subsidies, reforming the foreign exchange market, and tackling inefficiencies are not signs of incompetence but acts of courage aimed at rebuilding Nigeria. What Obasanjo brands incompetence is, in fact, the boldness to do what he and others never dared,” Oladejo said.
The party accused the former president of harbouring resentment and a pattern of undermining leaders once he loses influence.
“Obasanjo’s hallmark is to criticise governments he cannot control. His own tenure was marred by widespread corruption and mismanagement. Billions vanished in the power sector, the economy sank deeper into debt despite his celebrated repayments, and his ill-fated third-term bid almost pushed the country to the brink of political instability,” the statement read.
Oladejo called on the elder statesman to exercise restraint and adopt a more constructive role.
“At his age, he should be offering wisdom rather than stirring division. If he cannot contribute meaningfully, silence would serve both him and Nigeria better than this quest for relevance,” he stressed.
The Lagos APC reaffirmed that President Tinubu was not competing with past leaders but remained focused on steering the country towards recovery.
“Nigeria’s difficulties neither began with Buhari nor are they worsening under Tinubu. Much of the decay traces back to Obasanjo’s administration. The current leadership is committed to reform and renewal, and no amount of bitterness from yesterday’s men will derail this path,” the statement added.
