Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he is in a hurry to see Nigeria attain greatness as he nears the “departure lounge,” while reflecting on his legacy, criticising past and present administrations, and urging for better leadership.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that he is “in a hurry to see Nigeria rise,” stressing that he is getting close to his “departure lounge.”
The former leader made the remarks while reflecting on his decades in public service and unveiling his latest book, Nigeria: Past and Future.
Obasanjo, who ruled as both military Head of State (1976–1979) and civilian President (1999–2007), said his interventions were never borne out of malice but aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s progress. “All my writings have been aimed at making Nigeria better because I strongly believe that Nigeria can be made better and I also believe in documentation,” he said.
He criticised the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as “the worst civil administration regime so far in Nigeria’s history,” and accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of inefficiency, noting, “Only Bola Tinubu’s administration seems to be competing with Buhari’s (in the area of inefficiency) for now.”
Despite criticisms of his own leadership, Obasanjo insisted his conscience remained clear. “Some have accused me of being equally guilty of the things I have written about… I rely on my conscience and my records,” he said, adding that his legacy would ultimately speak for him.