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From Command to Conscience: Obasanjo Reflects on Nigeria’s Journey, Leadership Failures, and His Legacy

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he was in a hurry to see Nigeria attain its potential for greatness, stressing that he is now “getting close” to his departure lounge.

Obasanjo made the remark while reflecting on his years in public service and his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future,’ where he assessed Nigeria’s leadership trajectory and criticised both past and present administrations.

According to him, his writings and interventions over the years have not been borne out of animosity but out of a desire to see that Nigeria progress.

“All my writings have been aimed at making Nigeria better because I strongly believe that Nigeria can be made better and I also believe in documentation,” he said.

The former president explained that he had written works such as ‘My Command’, ‘Nzeogwu’, ‘Not My Will’, and his three-volume autobiography, ‘My Watch’, to shed light on his experiences in leadership, policy decisions, imprisonment, and the challenges Nigeria has faced.

I have written Letters to my superiors and my successors in moments of our nation’s troubles and challenges. I have done these not out of malice but to help leaders to learn lessons and to draw the attention of Nigerians to the nature of the various crises,” he noted.

Obasanjo, who ruled Nigeria as both military Head of State (1976–1979) and civilian President (1999–2007), said he was aware of criticisms that he often sounded sanctimonious, but insisted his conscience remained clear. “Some have accused me of being equally guilty of the things I have written about or accused others of. I rely on my conscience and my records and have no need to defend myself,” he stated.

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On his years as a military leader, Obasanjo said he and his contemporaries may have been inexperienced but were patriotic. “We were young, maybe somewhat naïve at times but we were patriotic and committed and sincerely so. We sought to feed our people, we sought to provide infrastructure, we sought to prioritise education, we sought to bring Nigeria to modernity and raise our profile in the international arena,” he explained.

In his latest book, Obasanjo described the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023) as “the worst civil administration regime so far in Nigeria’s history.”

He recalled how Buhari, in justifying the 1983 coup against the then President Shehu Shagari, condemned corruption, mismanagement, and electoral malpractice, but failed to address those same issues when he later became a democratically elected president. “Good points and good words which Buhari failed to follow when he became the President years later. Words are cheap and what needed to be done was left undone during Buhari’s civil administration,” Obasanjo wrote.

However, Mallam Garba Shehu, spokesman to the late Buhari, said Obasanjo’s criticisms were rooted in personal animosity. “There are many around Buhari who hold that the spectacular falling out between him and his superior in the military…was on account of the demand, reportedly put to him by Obasanjo, that the contract for the Mambilla Power Project be given to a contractor he preferred. On this, Buhari politely told the former president to allow him to handle it his own way,” Shehu alleged in his book According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience.

Obasanjo also reserved harsh words for the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of inefficiency. “Only Bola Tinubu’s administration seems to be competing with Buhari’s (in the area of inefficiency) for now,” he declared.

Efforts to obtain a response from the presidency were unsuccessful as calls and messages to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, were not responded to as of press time.

Obasanjo reiterated that his legacy would speak for him, noting that he had served Nigeria in different capacities, endured imprisonment, and witnessed both the best and worst of the nation. “Yes, I am both angry and sad because I have seen the best and the worst of our country. With hindsight, we know we made some mistakes, but again we did some great things in our country, for our country and for Africa,” he said.

“I have had the great honour of serving this country as a military Head of State and a President. So, it might be said that I have sat on both sides of the fence. I have gone through the crucible of rural life, meagre resources, military peacekeeping in Africa, war in my own country, humiliation and imprisonment. I have learned a lot from what I have gone through, pleasant and not-so-pleasant,” Obasanjo added.

 

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Despite Dangote’s Withdrawal, ICPC Vows to Continue Investigation on Ex-NMDPRA Boss

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6 hours ago

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January 8, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared its intention to proceed with an investigation into the sacked Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, despite the withdrawal of a petition against him by businessman Aliko Dangote.

Mr. Dangote had earlier petitioned the anti-graft agency, alleging that Mr. Ahmed misappropriated $5 million for the payment of his children’s school fees. The ICPC had consequently invited Mr. Dangote in December to formally adopt the petition as required by law.

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However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission confirmed the petition’s withdrawal. It noted receipt of a formal letter dated January 5, 2025, from Dr. O.J. Onoja, SAN, the legal counsel to Aliko Dangote. The letter, titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Petition against Engineer Farouk Ahmed,” stated that the petitioner was withdrawing the complaint in its entirety and indicated that another law enforcement agency had taken over the matter.

The ICPC, in its response, asserted its statutory authority to continue the probe. Citing sections 3(14) and 27(3) of its enabling Act, the Commission stated that investigations had already commenced in the public interest.

“The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption for the benefit of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

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League of Veteran Journalists Independent of Ministry, Says Waiya as Journalists Adopt Constitution

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6 hours ago

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January 8, 2026

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Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya addressing the Press after the meeting

 

 

The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has clarified that the Kano League of Veteran Journalists (KALVEJ) is an independent professional body and not an appendage of the State Ministry of Information.

Speaking during the ratification and adoption of the League’s Charter, which has now become its Constitution, the Commissioner explained that although the Ministry supports and relates with the League, such engagement is strictly on a professional basis.

He emphasized the importance of preserving the independence of professional bodies to enable them operate effectively and in line with global best practices, noting that the Ministry maintains similar professional relationships with bodies such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and other related professional organizations.

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The Constitution was ratified and adopted at the Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, during a session attended by members of the League drawn from various segments of the journalism profession, including academics.

The session featured extensive discussions, comments, observations, and detailed scrutiny of the draft document by members. Key observations raised included the absence of clear provisions on members’ welfare, gender representation, and sustainable funding mechanisms for the League.

Following exhaustive deliberations, members resolved that all issues raised during the session be forwarded to the Constitution Drafting Committee and Secretariat for further consideration and necessary amendments.

At the end of the session, a motion was moved and unanimously adopted mandating the Constitution Drafting Committee to continue managing the affairs of the League for a period of one year, pending the conduct of elections for substantive executives.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Aminu, expressed gratitude to members for the confidence reposed in the committee. He assured the gathering that all concerns raised, particularly those relating to the welfare of members, would be adequately addressed in the revised Constitution.

Signed
Sani Abba Yola
Director, Special Duties
Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs
7th January, 2026

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Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of Malami’s 57 Properties

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6 hours ago

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January 8, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about N213.2 billion, allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his two sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman Malami.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court held that the assets, acquired between 2016 and 2024, are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

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The diverse portfolio of properties spans Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. It includes luxury hotels and duplexes in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Jabi districts; farmlands and housing estates in Birnin Kebbi; and commercial plazas, warehouses, and school facilities in other locations.

Justice Nwite directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national newspaper. This will allow any interested party 14 days to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be granted in favour of the Federal Government. The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report of compliance.

In a related case before the same court, Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently standing trial over separate alleged money laundering charges involving N8.7 billion.

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