Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has risen against the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, declaring that any government that cannot guarantee the safety of the lives and property of its citizens has effectively lost its legitimacy.
President Obasanjo spoke during an interview with News Central Television, noting that the guarantee of citizens’ security remains the most fundamental responsibility of any state.
He argued that when a government fails in this core duty, it can no longer justify its continued existence as this failure undermines both governance and public trust.
According to Obasanjo: “The government that cannot guarantee security of life and property of its citizens has forfeited the right of existence.”
The former President also launched a sweeping attack on Nigeria’s governance system, accusing the National Assembly of fixing its own salaries and emoluments and alleging massive corruption in refinery rehabilitation.
He faulted the National Assembly for determining its own salary and emoluments, insisting that such responsibility lies solely with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which is constitutionally mandated to handle remuneration for public office holders.
“The National Assembly members are fixing their own salaries and emoluments, which is not supposed to be their duty but that of the National Salaries and Wages Commission,” he said.
The former president also decried what he described as entrenched corruption in Nigeria’s refinery system, revealing that over $16 billion had been spent on repairs without commensurate results.
“I learnt there is too much corruption around the refineries. Over $16 billion has been spent, yet nothing to show for it,” he said, expressing concern over the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of such huge public resources.
He contrasted the situation with the achievement of the Dangote Group, which he noted built a refinery with $20 billion, a comparison that, according to him, raises serious questions about efficiency and governance in public sector projects.
On fears of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state, Obasanjo said he would hold President Bola Tinubu to his word, noting that Tinubu had assured Nigerians he would not allow such a development.
“I will take him at his word,” Obasanjo stated, while underscoring the need for a vibrant multi-party system to sustain democratic ideals.
