Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and leadership direction, warning that any government unable to guarantee the safety of lives and property has lost its legitimacy.
Speaking in an interview on News Central’s Soni Irabor Live (SIL), Obasanjo said: “The first responsibility of any government, no matter how that government comes into being, is the security of life and property. A government that cannot give security of life and property to its citizens has forfeited the right of existence.”
He said insecurity and kidnapping should never be accepted as normal in the country, recalling earlier decades when Nigerians could travel freely without fear. “We’ve taken it for granted. It’s no longer news. So when you hear that somebody in your family has been kidnapped, you all come together. Should we accept that as a way of life? No way,” he said.
Obasanjo blamed Nigeria’s challenges on poor leadership, arguing that the country has lost its global influence and no longer plays a meaningful role in international decision-making. “Today, Nigeria is not at the table of international politics. What is it that Nigeria is influencing or impacting?” he asked.
He also criticised Nigeria’s handling of regional affairs, particularly relations with Niger Republic following the 2023 coup, during which President Bola Tinubu led ECOWAS as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Obasanjo said the response to the crisis was poorly managed and damaged long-standing ties between both countries. “Look at the way we have handled ECOWAS. Something that took us 50 years to build, overnight, we mishandled it and virtually destroyed it,” he said.
He added that sanctions imposed on Niger including border closures and suspension of electricity supply were misguided. “The first thing we did was to close the border. The next thing was to cut their electricity. The next thing was to say no money… So when I talk of mishandling, you see what I mean,” he said.
The former president stressed the deep historical ties between Nigeria and Niger, noting shared cultural and family relationships across the border and past cooperation during Nigeria’s civil war and infrastructure projects like the Kainji Dam. “At least 30 per cent of the people of Niger Republic have blood relationship with Nigeria,” he said.
Obasanjo also warned that Nigeria’s growing population of out-of-school children estimated at about 20 million poses a long-term security threat, describing it as a potential recruitment base for extremist groups if left unaddressed.
On the economy, he reiterated his belief that government-run refineries under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) are unlikely to function effectively. “NNPC has refineries. And I said to people that it will never work,” he said, adding that billions of dollars have been spent with little result.
He contrasted this with successful private-sector participation such as Nigeria LNG, which he described as evidence that public-private partnerships are more effective.
Obasanjo also dismissed the effectiveness of the National Council of State, describing it as largely advisory and often ignored, while warning against any drift toward a one-party system. “He said he will not want to see a one-party state in Nigeria. It will be a pity because it will not serve its purpose,” he noted.
Despite his criticisms, he maintained that Nigeria still has the potential to recover, but insisted that progress depends on better leadership and governance choices, saying the country’s future hinges on “a fundamental shift in how it is governed.”