The Traffic

"Sunday Dare Blasts Obasanjo: 'He Wasted $16bn to Generate Darkness and Ran the Most Corrupt Presidency'"

By Achimi Muktar

The political arena has been set ablaze as Sunday Dare, special adviser on public communication and orientation to President Bola Tinubu, fired back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his scathing remarks about the current administration. Dare’s fiery response has reignited debates on leadership failures, corruption, and accountability in Nigeria’s history.

Obasanjo’s Swipe at Tinubu

Speaking at a leadership forum at Yale University, USA, Obasanjo painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current state, blaming it on “widespread corruption, poor leadership, and immorality” under Tinubu. He accused the nation’s political elite of engaging in “state capture” by manipulating policies and resources for personal gains.

Dare Hits Back: "The Most Corrupt Presidency"

Dare, in a searing rebuttal posted on X (formerly Twitter), dismissed Obasanjo’s criticism as baseless and hypocritical.

“Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief, and Nigerians know it,” Dare wrote. “His journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt. He ran a presidency on record as the most corrupt.”

Dare didn’t stop there, revisiting one of Obasanjo’s most controversial legacies—the infamous $16 billion power project that, according to critics, failed to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply.

“There has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16 billion in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation,” Dare added.

“Democracy Suffered Mortal Wounds”

Dare also criticized Obasanjo’s alleged anti-democratic tendencies, particularly his push for an ill-fated third term in office.

“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch, capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated third term. Successive administrations struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind, which President Tinubu is now making progress with,” he stated.

Call for Accountability

Dare urged Obasanjo to reflect on his own contributions to Nigeria’s struggles instead of casting stones at his successors.

“He should apologise to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance,” Dare said. “Obasanjo’s habit of pulling down leaders, especially his successors, is unhelpful. He must interrogate himself on how he has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigerian nation, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now spiritedly battling to put back on track.”

Obasanjo’s Legacy Under Fire

While Obasanjo’s supporters hail him as a statesman and critic unafraid to speak truth to power, Dare’s remarks highlight lingering controversies from his administration, including allegations of corruption, the failed power project, and accusations of heavy-handed leadership.

Renewed Hope Agenda

Dare concluded by reiterating Tinubu’s commitment to rebuilding the nation.

“We thank former President Obasanjo for agreeing that ‘Yes, there is hope.’ That’s the Renewed Hope Agenda President Tinubu is about, and it’s on track. We are happy to have that conversation with the former president,” Dare stated.

As the war of words between two eras of leadership intensifies, Nigerians are left to grapple with the question: How much of the nation’s current state is the fault of its past versus its present?