BY GODWIN OBI
A former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has faulted the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, saying the country is becoming a “failing state”.
Obasanjo spoke in his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
“The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, and disunity,” Obasanjo said during the event on Friday.
“The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated for all to see.”
“As we can see and understand, Nigeria’s situation is bad. The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, discord, division, disunity, depression, youth restiveness, confusion, violence, and underdevelopment,” Obasanjo added.
“That’s the situation mostly in Nigeria in the reign of Baba-go-slow and Emilokan. The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see through the consequences of the level of our pervasive corruption, mediocrity, immorality, misconduct, mismanagement, perversion, injustice, incompetence, and all other forms of iniquity.”
Obasanjo asked the leadership of the country to work for the betterment of the people and not pander to foreign influences to the detriment of Nigerians.
The former president warned against what he described as “state capture” by some persons which he said is one of the most pervasive forms of corruption
He said, “State capture is one of the most pervasive forms of corruption.
“What is happening in Nigeria—right before our eyes—is state capture, where public institutions are subject to undue influence from vested interests.”
He also decried the rising levels of insecurity, food scarcity, and other issues affecting Nigeria.
According to him, if food insecurity is not tackled, the country faces threats of instability.
Ex-president Obasanjo accused politicians of taking advantage of the situation instead of addressing it.
“The food items are usually packaged strategically with the image of political candidates and the parties they represent,” he said.
“The political calculation here is that destitute people are more likely to vote for a politician who brings along gifts – ironically, bought by looted treasury funds belonging to the very same people that are condescended upon – than one who only provides concrete solutions to their everyday problems that might take time.”
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