Obasanjo slams Lagos-Calabar Highway project, calls It corrupt, wasteful

Obasanjo did not hold back in his assessment of Nigerian leadership, arguing that many in power—from governors to local government chairmen—are primarily interested in enriching themselves. He described the country’s political elite as:  “Ill-prepared, satanic, self-centered, and all out to corruptly enrich themselves while the nation continues to wallow in abject poverty and condemnable underdevelopment.”

He recounted the case of a state governor who had been deeply in debt before assuming office but miraculously cleared all his bank loans within two years—without his business making any profit.

“You are left to guess where the money came from,” he wrote.

According to him, this is a common pattern in Nigeria, where politicians take control of state resources while offering only “a pittance” to subordinates to keep them from speaking out.

A Broken System: “What Small Minds!”

Obasanjo particularly criticized leaders who attempt to cover up corrupt deals and mislead the public about major projects. He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Vice President’s N21 billion residence as prime examples of wasteful spending.

“Typical examples of waste, corruption, and misplaced priority are the murky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on which the President had turned deaf ears to protests, and the new Vice President’s official residence built at a cost of N21bn in a time of economic hardship to showcase the administration hitting the ground running and to show the importance of the office of the Vice President. What small minds!”

Obasanjo Calls for “Afrodemocracy” to Replace Western Liberal Democracy

The former president believes that Nigeria’s governance problems stem from a flawed democratic system. He argued that Western-style democracy has failed both in the West and in Nigeria.

“We should seek democracy within African history, culture, attributes, and characteristics—one that will take necessary African factors into consideration. Until we can get a better word or description for it, let us call it Afrodemocracy.”

According to Obasanjo, this new model would help Africa avoid the pitfalls of Western liberal democracy while creating a system that better serves its people.

Presidency Stays Silent

When contacted for a response, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga declined to comment on Obasanjo’s criticisms.

With Obasanjo’s stinging remarks adding to the growing backlash against Tinubu’s government, the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Highway and other questionable expenditures is unlikely to die down soon.