TRIBUNE NG
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has responded sharply to recent criticisms from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of perpetuating mischief and distorting facts in his comments.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dare defended President Tinubu’s administration and reaffirmed its commitment to progress, asserting that successive Nigerian governments, including Tinubu’s, have been working hard to clean up the “mess” left by Obasanjo’s tenure.
The presidential aides’ remarks came in response to a recent speech by Obasanjo at Yale University, where the former president criticised the current administration’s handling of governance.
According to Dare, Obasanjo’s criticisms lack sincerity and are undermined by his own controversial legacy. He pointed out that Obasanjo’s administration left Nigeria with serious challenges, particularly in the area of power generation, where $16 billion was allegedly wasted on projects that failed to provide electricity for the country.
“It is laughable that Obasanjo, who presided over one of the most corrupt governments in Nigeria’s history, now positions himself as a champion of anti-corruption,” Dare wrote. “He conveniently forgets how his own administration failed to deliver on critical infrastructure, leaving Nigeria with a staggering power deficit. There has been no explanation for how billions were spent to generate ‘megawatts of darkness.’”
Dare also took issue with Obasanjo’s claim about democracy in Nigeria, asserting that Obasanjo’s own actions contributed to the weakening of democratic institutions.
He highlighted the former president’s controversial attempt to extend his presidency through a failed third-term bid, which he said inflicted lasting damage on Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated third term,” Dare continued. “Successive administrations, including President Tinubu’s, have been working tirelessly to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind. Today, Nigeria is finally making progress under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
The Special Adviser also called for Obasanjo to reflect on his own contributions to the current state of Nigeria, urging him to reconsider his stance on his successors.
“Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government.
“He should apologise to Nigerians for failing to lay the foundational infrastructure that the country so desperately needed to advance,” Dare stated.
Dare’s comments were punctuated by a Yoruba proverb: “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo”—which translates as, “You shouldn’t pay heed to the market’s noise; instead, focus on the person you are negotiating with.”
Dare emphasised that the noise Obasanjo was making was nothing more than “market noise,” and that the real focus should be on the tangible progress being made by President Tinubu’s administration through its Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his closing remarks, Dare acknowledged Obasanjo’s recent statement that “Yes, there is hope,” agreeing that this sentiment aligns with the goals of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria was on the right path under Tinubu’s leadership and encouraged the former president to join in the conversation about the country’s future.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has asserted that President Tinubu is doing everything possible to chart a way to move a lot of Nigerians out of poverty.
