Obasanjo
Lagos-Calabar Highway Project Wasteful, Obasanjo Slams Tinubu’s Govt
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its handling of the ₦15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and the ₦21 billion spent on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled during his 88th birthday celebration, Obasanjo labeled the projects as wasteful, corrupt, and a reflection of misplaced priorities.
Obasanjo joined other prominent Nigerians, including 2023 PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, in questioning the Federal Government’s decision to award the Lagos-Calabar highway contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company without competitive bidding. Chagoury, a long-time business associate and friend of Tinubu, has been at the center of controversy over the deal.
The former president also condemned the Tinubu administration for spending ₦21 billion on a new residence for the Vice President at a time when the country is grappling with severe economic challenges.
He accused Nigerian leaders, including presidents, governors, and other officials, of being ill-prepared, self-centered, and primarily focused on enriching themselves at the expense of the nation.
Obasanjo described the leadership style in Nigeria as transactional, with the motto being, “It is my turn to chop.”
He criticized leaders for exploiting state resources, covering up corrupt practices, and leaving the country worse off than they found it.
He highlighted instances where governors cleared massive personal debts shortly after assuming office, raising questions about the source of the funds.
He further accused leaders of deceiving the public, lying about contract awards, and mismanaging national assets. Obasanjo emphasized that such leaders are unfit for office and contribute to Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with poverty and underdevelopment.
In his book, Obasanjo expressed frustration with the lack of accountability and transparency in governance, stating, “State resources are captured and appropriated to themselves with a pittance to staff and associates to silence potential whistleblowers.”
He said the actions of these leaders are “criminally ridiculous” and a disservice to the over 230 million Nigerians they are meant to serve.
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