- Obasanjo slammed the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar highway project, calling it wasteful and financially mismanaged, with concerns over corruption in the contract process
- The former president also criticised the N21 billion spent on Vice President Shettima’s new residence, calling it an example of "small minds" and a conduit for embezzlement
- Stating further in his new book, Obasanjo advocated for "Afrodemocracy" and questioned the suitability of Western liberal democracy for African nations, urging a re-evaluation of Nigeria’s political system
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sharply criticised the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project and the N21 billion spent on the construction of a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing both as wasteful, corrupt, and a reflection of misplaced priorities under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In his new book 'Nigeria: Past and Future,' released to mark his 88th birthday, Obasanjo condemned the federal government's decisions, stating that the Lagos-Calabar highway project, which will cost a staggering N4.93 billion per kilometre, was a form of financial mismanagement.
He highlighted concerns over the lack of competitive bidding for the contract, which was awarded to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company, a long-time business associate of Tinubu.
The first phase of the project, running from Eko Atlantic to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, has already cost N1.06 trillion, or six per cent of the total budget.
Obasanjo expressed disappointment over the current state of governance, accusing politicians of prioritising personal enrichment over the well-being of the Nigerian people.
"The majority of those who have been opportune to hold leadership positions are ill-prepared, self-centred, and corrupt, They are out to corruptly enrich themselves while the nation continues to wallow in abject poverty and underdevelopment" he stated, referring to both current and past leaders at various levels of government.
The former president also slammed the expenditure on the Vice President’s new residence, particularly in the context of the country's economic struggles.
He termed the project "a conduit designed to embezzle public funds" and an example of "small minds" in leadership, pointing out that such spending is particularly egregious in times of hardship.
Obasanjo’s book, which paints a damning portrait of Nigerian leadership, also addresses the issue of mismanagement at the state level.
He recounted instances of governors who, after accumulating massive debts before taking office, suddenly found the means to pay off their loans within two years of assuming power—raising suspicions of corrupt enrichment.
"The state resources are captured and appropriated to themselves with a pittance to staff and associates to close the mouths of those who could blow the whistle," Obasanjo said, adding that this pattern of behaviour is widespread across the country with few exceptions.
In addition to his critiques of corruption, Obasanjo advocated for a shift in Nigeria’s political system.
He called for a re-evaluation of Western liberal democracy, suggesting that it may not be the best fit for African nations.
"We should seek democracy within African history, culture, attributes, and characteristics," he proposed, introducing the concept of "Afrodemocracy" as a possible alternative to Western models.
Full List: Obasanjo, Gowon, Rawlings, other presidents who have chaired ECOWAS since inception
In an earlier report, TheRadar compiled the full list of ECOWAS chairpersons from inception till date as the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, July 7, 2024, by the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government.
From the list, many Nigerian presidents have chaired ECOWAS, including Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Muhammadu Buhari.
