The President ,Muhammadu Buhari during his independence day speech on Thursday, has once again blamed Nigeria’s past leaders since the current democratic dispensation for the “near destruction of the country.”
The president made this remark without mentioning any of the leaders by name, though, he made direct reference to those who ‘presided over’ Nigeria between 1999 and 2015, questioning how such leaders had the ‘impundence’ to criticise his administration.
“Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts.
For the records, Nigeria’s presidents since 1999 are Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 to 2007), late Umaru Yar’Adua (2007 to 2010), and Goodluck Jonathan (2010 to 2015).
Thursday’s statement was Mr Buhari’s first personal reaction since the latest criticism of his government by Mr Obasanjo.
it would be recalled that Mr Obasanjo had lamented the worsening security and economic situation in the country, blaming Mr Buhari’s government for it.
“Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country,” Mr Obasanjo said.
Mr Obasanjo’s stance was backed by many Nigerians including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
However, Mr Buhari’s aides including presidential spokesman Garba Shehu and information minister Lai Mohammed attacked Mr Obasanjo for the statement.
Mr Buhari’s Thursday statement, made as part of his 60th anniversary speech, appeared to be his direct response to Mr Obasanjo.
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