Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday in Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, said Nigeria was becoming a “failing state” under President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at the university, Obasanjo said the nation’s dire situation was evident to every honest person, and labelled the country’s status as being marked by pervasive corruption and leadership failure.
A statement released by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, quoted Obasanjo as referring to President Tinubu as “Baba-go-slow” and “Emilokan,” to describe his leadership.
In the lecture titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria”, the former president warned that the nation is sinking deeper into insecurity, division and underdevelopment, and attributed these to widespread corruption, mediocrity and a lack of accountability.
He added, “The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, and disunity. The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated for all to see.”
Drawing inspiration from Chinua Achebe’s 1983 treatise “The Trouble with Nigeria”, Obasanjo reiterated that the nation’s challenges stem from a failure of leadership. He dismissed notions that cultural or environmental factors are to blame, emphasizing instead the inability of leaders to rise to the occasion.
Obasanjo also accused political elites of engaging in state capture, a form of corruption where powerful groups manipulate national policies, laws, and resources for personal gain. He highlighted the sale of national assets at undervalued prices and the undue influence of interest groups in shaping Nigeria’s economic and political landscape.
“State capture is one of the most pervasive forms of corruption,” Obasanjo explained. “What is happening in Nigeria – right before our eyes – is state capture, where public institutions are subject to undue influence from vested interests.”
The former president criticised the intertwining of business and political elites through family ties, lobbying, and vote-buying, which he argued prioritises private gain over public welfare. He warned of the long-term implications on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.
On a hopeful note, Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria’s challenges are surmountable, provided the nation’s leadership embraces accountability and reforms.
In honouring Chinua Achebe, Obasanjo praised the late literary icon for his lasting contributions to the Nigerian society, describing him as “a great and distinguished Nigerian.”
The speech has sparked debate about Nigeria’s current trajectory and the responsibility of its leaders to address deep-seated challenges.
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