Bad governance may trigger revolution in Nigeria – Obasanjo warns

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over rising frustration among Nigerian youths, cautioning that continued misgovernance could trigger a revolution driven by hunger and anger.

In his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo criticized the country’s leadership for mismanaging resources, fostering corruption, and failing to address the needs of young people.

He stated, “Current trends on the continent portray a more assertive, younger population, intolerant of abuses of power and in search of the dividends of good governance, such that whether or not we accept it, an inevitable shake-up is in the offing.”

The former president warned that if leaders remained insensitive to citizens’ struggles, particularly those of the youth, the country could face severe consequences. He added, “If the incumbent leaders do not shape up and satisfy the yearnings and demands of their people, especially the youths, who are disappointed, dissatisfied, bitter, hungry, angry, unemployed and unempowered, then the future is indeed very bleak, with no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Obasanjo also took aim at traditional institutions, alleging that the integrity of traditional rulers had been eroded, with some engaging in criminal activities. He lamented, “Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers.”

Addressing the nation’s security challenges, he pointed out that while the Nigerian Civil War ended in 30 months, the fight against Boko Haram had dragged on for nearly two decades. He attributed this partly to corruption in military procurement, accusing past administrations of equipping the armed forces with substandard weaponry.

He further alleged that under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, security operations were selective, favoring certain groups while cracking down on others. “When a person of the calibre of General T. Y. Danjuma, a man who is not known for flippancy, made such an accusation, it must be taken seriously,” he said.

Obasanjo urged the military to focus on safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity while resisting any temptation to engage in unconstitutional actions.

Efforts to reach Buhari’s former spokesperson, Garba Shehu, for a response were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered. Similarly, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu declined to comment on the matter.