Presidency slams Obasanjo over comment that Tinubu entered office without plan

The presidency has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent remarks, where he claimed that President Bola Tinubu assumed office without a clear plan.

Temitope Ajayi, President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, addressed the comments, suggesting that Obasanjo perceives himself as Nigeria’s “sole saviour.”

Ajayi highlighted that President Tinubu is currently advancing bold economic reforms initially introduced by Obasanjo, but which were left incomplete.

He acknowledged Obasanjo’s role in opening up the economy and starting key reforms, yet argued that Obasanjo’s “messianic complex” drives him to believe he is Nigeria’s only effective leader.

Referencing Obasanjo’s recent interview with News Central Television, where the former president suggested Tinubu lacks a structured plan, Ajayi labeled the criticism as hypocritical.

He pointed out that many of Obasanjo’s own initiatives were left unfinished, making his critique of Tinubu’s administration ironic.

Ajayi wrote: “A video of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s interview with News Central Television has been trending on social media platforms for the past week.

“In the interview, the former President, in a veiled reference to the current administration, said Nigeria has a President who came into office without a plan.

“Yet, the same ‘planless’ president is implementing a bold economic reform programme that Obasanjo initiated and abandoned mid-way.

“Despite his foibles and messianic complex, former President Obasanjo is no doubt a remarkable leader. His administration opened the economy and implemented essential reforms that his immediate successor should have continued with.

“What most critics find offensive about the former president is how he sees himself as the only saviour God created for Nigeria. As far as he is concerned, no other leader before and after him has been good enough.

“For context and clarity, it is essential to recall the former president’s position on deregulating the downstream oil sector when he was in charge.”