Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has characterized the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as both wasteful and corrupt. He has also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for allocating N21 billion for the construction of a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, labeling it a misallocation of resources and a potential avenue for embezzlement of public funds.
Obasanjo shared these views in chapter six of his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future,” which outlines the characteristics of various leaders at both federal and state levels. This book was one of two released to celebrate his 88th birthday last week.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, indicated that the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will cost approximately N4.93 billion per kilometer and clarified that the contract was awarded based on counterpart funding rather than through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
So far, N1.06 trillion has been allocated for the initial phase of the project, which starts at Eko Atlantic and is intended to end at the Lekki Deep Sea Port. Many prominent figures, including Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the PDP, have raised concerns regarding the government’s choice to award the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company without a competitive bidding process. Chagoury is known to have longstanding business ties with Tinubu.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s two years in office, Obasanjo expressed concern that the trend of exploiting Nigeria’s over 230 million inhabitants would persist, noting, “Everything is transactional, and the prevailing slogan seems to be ‘It is my turn to chop.’”
A spokesperson for the President, Bayo Onanuga, declined to comment on Obasanjo’s remarks regarding the administration when approached for a response.
Obasanjo criticized many individuals who have held leadership roles—including governors, presidents, ministers, and local government chairmen—labeling them ill-equipped, self-serving, and focused on corruptly enriching themselves while the nation grapples with severe poverty and underdevelopment.
He highlighted that many aspiring governors or leaders are chiefly concerned with leveraging their positions for personal gain, often leaving the country in a worse state than they found it. Obasanjo recounted cases where executive officials owed substantial debts before taking office and, within a short time, managed to settle these debts without any apparent legitimate means of income, suggesting a deep-rooted corruption in the system.
He stated, “It is typical in these instances that state resources are misappropriated, leaving just enough for staff and associates to silence potential whistleblowers during and after their tenure.”
He further condemned those leaders who engage in deceptive practices, covering up truths surrounding contracts, agreements, loans, and the sale of national assets, claiming such leaders are unfit for their roles.
Obasanjo pointed to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project and the costly new official residence for the Vice President as prime examples of corruption and poor prioritization in the current government, especially amidst economic hardship.
To address these ongoing challenges, Obasanjo emphasized the need to critically assess the Western liberal democracy currently in practice and to consider adapting it to better suit African contexts. He suggested that if Western democracy struggles for effectiveness in its own regions, Nigeria should reevaluate its approach to governance.
He proposed the concept of “Afrodemocracy,” which would integrate African values and histories into the democratic process, ultimately leading to the creation of a constitution reflective of African needs and circumstances.
