Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has come under criticism for allegedly downplaying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s major infrastructure projects, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, in his newly launched memoir, Nigeria: Past and Future.
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, strongly rebuked Obasanjo, accusing him of attempting to rewrite history while ignoring his own administration’s failures. In a post on his verified X handle (@DOlusegun) on Thursday, Olusegun argued that Obasanjo’s claims would “further relegate his integrity as the leader who opened Nigeria to the cankerworms of corruption.”
“By underplaying the importance of the Lagos-Calabar project in his latest book, President OBJ has not only affirmed to those who witnessed his administration’s failures, but he has also put in written form a position which generations to come will indeed question,” Olusegun stated.
He further criticized Obasanjo for neglecting key infrastructure projects during his eight-year tenure, particularly in his home state of Ogun. Olusegun highlighted the long-delayed Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which he said remained stagnant for 16 years under Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before former President Muhammadu Buhari revived it.
“Despite spending eight years in government and failing in his attempt to force himself on Nigerians for a further four years, Baba Obasanjo failed woefully in addressing the infrastructural needs of his state. It took former President Buhari just three years to deliver the first modern rail to pass through Baba’s backyard in Abeokuta,” he added.
Beyond infrastructure, Olusegun accused Obasanjo of mismanaging Nigeria’s power sector, failing to revive the nation’s refineries, and overseeing a flawed privatization of NITEL. He argued that Tinubu is now making the tough decisions that past leaders, including Obasanjo, failed to take.
“President Tinubu will not be deterred by distractions such as these,” he stated, emphasizing that Nigerians who prioritize development will remain focused on the administration’s progress.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a key project under Tinubu’s administration, is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s economy and improve connectivity along the nation’s coastline. Alongside projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and the Lagos-Abuja Highway, it represents a bold infrastructure push by the current government.
Rather than downplaying Tinubu’s achievements, Olusegun urged Obasanjo to reflect on his own legacy.
“President Obasanjo must emulate others before him by returning to his writing board to at least attempt to explain to Nigerians why he failed to help Nigeria transition into a proper country under his leadership,” he said.
