Obasanjo Critiques Tinubu's Economic Policies at Symposium

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu's administration, warning that without urgent review, Nigerians may face continued misery and poverty. Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on October 22, 2026, Obasanjo condemned the management of the naira, the removal of the petrol subsidy, and the economic policies enacted since May 2023.

On October 30, he further described the government's borrowing plan as worse than leprosy, emphasizing its long-term consequences for future generations. At the 3rd Ajibosin Annual Symposium in Abeokuta, he dismissed Tinubu's assertion that debt is not leprosy, arguing that debt is a deferred burden that destroys generations.

Obasanjo criticized the reliance on strategies from global financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF, suggesting they keep developing countries in a debt trap. He also lamented the naira's devaluation over the past 47 years, questioning the effectiveness of current leadership.