The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has fired back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu, describing the remarks as “laughable, hypocritical, and undeserving of serious attention.”
Obasanjo, in his newly launched book Nigeria: Past and Future, alleged that Tinubu’s administration is “competing with Buhari in incompetence.”
The publication, unveiled in March as part of events marking Obasanjo’s 88th birthday, also included a second book titled Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation.
In one of the chapters, the former president branded the Muhammadu Buhari administration as “the worst civil administration in Nigeria’s history” and added that Tinubu’s government appears to be following the same path.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, APC’s Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks as an unmerited attack.
“It is ironic that a leader whose tenure was marked by arrogance, wasted opportunities, and repeated attempts to undermine democracy now seeks to lecture others on competence,” Oladejo said.
He maintained that President Tinubu has shown political will by implementing reforms that previous governments, including Obasanjo’s, failed to attempt.
“Removing fuel subsidies, reforming the foreign exchange market, and confronting inefficiencies are not signs of incompetence but bold steps towards rebuilding Nigeria. What Obasanjo calls incompetence is simply the courage to do what he and others could not,” the statement added.
The Lagos APC also accused the former president of harboring bitterness and a long history of undermining sitting leaders whenever he no longer enjoys influence.
“Obasanjo’s trademark is to attack governments he cannot control. His tenure witnessed some of the worst excesses in corruption and mismanagement, billions disappeared in the power sector, the economy sank deeper into debt despite his claims of repayment, and the infamous third-term bid nearly plunged the nation into chaos,” the party noted.
Calling on Obasanjo to exercise restraint, Oladejo said: “At his age, he should be offering wisdom, not fueling discord. If he cannot contribute constructively, silence would serve him, and Nigeria, better than this brand of attention-seeking rhetoric.”
The APC emphasized that President Tinubu is not in competition with Obasanjo or any past leader but is instead focused on steering the country toward recovery.
“Nigeria’s challenges did not begin with Buhari, nor are they worsening under Tinubu. Much of the rot traces back to Obasanjo’s own watch. The current administration is committed to reform and renewal, and no amount of bitterness from yesterday’s men will derail that journey,” the statement added.
