Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the country’s economic situation, urging Nigerians to reject his bid for a second term in the 2027 general election.
Obasanjo accused the Tinubu government of worsening economic hardship through what he described as poor leadership and incompetence, alleging that its policies had contributed to the collapse of businesses and rising unemployment.
The former president spoke on Monday at the seventh Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat, themed African Youth Renaissance, held at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He urged Nigerians not to support Tinubu’s return to office, insisting that the country needed a different direction.
“Tinubu has failed, his incompetence has made many businesses die. Don’t let him come back for a second term,” Obasanjo said.
He lamented that businesses which previously provided livelihoods for their owners and employees were shutting down, while factories were closing and many young people were losing their jobs.
Obasanjo also expressed concern over the rising prices of food, fuel and other essential commodities, saying the economic situation had placed an increasing burden on ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, many citizens who previously enjoyed a measure of financial stability were now finding it difficult to meet their basic needs.
The former president called on Nigerians to use the 2027 general election to decide the country’s future, arguing that the nation required leadership capable of addressing its economic challenges and improving the living conditions of citizens.