Obasanjo: Buhari Ran Nigeria’s Worst Civilian Government

inubu Not Far Behind

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the administration of the late Muhammadu Buhari as the worst civilian government in Nigeria’s history, placing President Bola Tinubu’s leadership as a close second.

In his recently released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo criticized Buhari’s presidency (2015–2023) for failing to address the very problems he once cited as justification for toppling the civilian government of Shehu Shagari in 1983 — namely corruption, economic mismanagement, and electoral malpractice.

According to Obasanjo, Buhari’s civilian rule did little to tackle these persistent issues. Instead, he argues, the country experienced a deeper decline under Buhari, pointing to his administration’s inability to combat corruption effectively. Obasanjo cited examples such as the controversial pardon granted to convicted ex-governors and the opaque handling of the Nigeria Air project as evidence of systemic failure.

On Tinubu’s government, Obasanjo offered a similarly grim assessment, saying it appears to be “competing” with Buhari’s for inefficiency. He referenced Nigeria’s current economic turmoil, including surging inflation, escalating fuel prices, and a steep drop in the value of the naira — all of which have worsened living conditions and increased food insecurity across the country.

In response, the Presidency, through aides Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare, dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks, accusing him of lacking moral authority to critique others. They argued that Obasanjo’s own administration (1999–2007) was plagued by corruption and failed to resolve major issues like power generation and infrastructure.

Garba Shehu, who served as Buhari’s spokesperson, suggested that Obasanjo’s criticisms were motivated by personal grievances and unmet expectations during Buhari’s time in office.

The issue of Nigeria’s growing external debt has been central to discussions about governance across these administrations. Obasanjo secured a landmark debt relief deal in 2005, reducing Nigeria’s external debt from $28 billion to $2.11 billion by the end of his tenure in 2007.

Debt levels began to rise again under President Goodluck Jonathan, reaching $7.3 billion by 2015, mostly to support infrastructure projects. Under Buhari, the debt surged to $42.9 billion by 2023, driven largely by efforts to cover budget deficits and finance infrastructure.

Tinubu’s administration has continued this borrowing pattern, adding $10.23 billion in just over a year. As of December 2024, Nigeria’s external debt stands at $53.13 billion. Critics continue to question whether these borrowed funds are being used effectively amid widespread concerns about corruption.

Obasanjo remains a powerful and controversial voice in Nigerian politics. Having ruled both as a military leader (1976–1979) and a democratically elected president (1999–2007), he is often vocal in offering critiques of Nigeria’s leadership. Though respected for guiding Nigeria back to democracy and promoting regional cooperation, his tenure was not without allegations of corruption and human rights violations.