The Pot Calling the Kettle Black: Obasanjo’s Hypocrisy

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent comments on the challenges facing the Dangote Petroleum Refinery have reignited discussions about Nigeria’s troubled oil sector. While Obasanjo raises valid points about corruption, inefficiency, and missed opportunities, his critique rings hollow when we consider his own legacy as a two-term president who failed to address these very issues.

The Irony of Obasanjo’s Critique

Corruption and Vested Interests: Obasanjo warns about fuel importers attempting to frustrate the Dangote refinery. However, during his presidency (1999-2007), he did little to dismantle the powerful import cartels that profited from Nigeria’s refining deficit. In fact, some argue that corruption in the oil sector flourished under his watch.

Neglect of Refineries: The former president recalls Shell’s refusal to run Nigeria’s refineries due to corruption and poor maintenance. Yet, Obasanjo’s administration failed to revitalize these critical assets or attract significant foreign investment to upgrade them. The decay of Nigeria’s refining capacity accelerated during his tenure.

Economic Diversification: Obasanjo laments the “deadly mistake” of neglecting gas and agriculture in favor of oil dependence. However, his own administration did not make significant strides in diversifying the economy away from oil. The agricultural sector, in particular, remained underdeveloped despite its potential.

Youth Unemployment: While Obasanjo warned about youth restiveness due to unemployment, his presidency saw rising unemployment rates and a failure to create sustainable job opportunities outside the oil sector.

Obasanjo’s Missed Opportunities

As a two-term president with significant political capital, Obasanjo had ample opportunity to address these systemic issues:

Reform of NNPC: He could have pushed for comprehensive reform of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to increase transparency and efficiency.

Investment in Refineries: His administration could have prioritized investment in domestic refining capacity to reduce reliance on imports.

Anti-Corruption Measures: While Obasanjo established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), more could have been done to tackle corruption specifically in the oil sector.

Economic Diversification: He could have implemented policies to stimulate growth in non-oil sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.

The Broader Context

Obasanjo’s critique, while not without merit, highlights a broader issue in Nigerian politics: the tendency of former leaders to criticize problems they themselves failed to solve while in power. This cycle of blame without accountability perpetuates Nigeria’s governance challenges.

Moving Forward

While it’s important to acknowledge the deep-rooted issues in Nigeria’s oil sector, true progress will require:

Genuine commitment to transparency and anti-corruption measures.

Significant investment in domestic refining capacity and infrastructure.

Comprehensive economic diversification strategies.

Accountability for both current and former leaders who have contributed to the sector’s problems.

Obasanjo’s Hypocrisy and comments serve as a reminder of the complex challenges facing Nigeria’s oil industry. However, they also underscore the need for introspection among Nigeria’s political class. Only by acknowledging past failures – including their own – can leaders contribute meaningfully to solving the country’s pressing economic issues.

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Reference: Why fuel importers will frustrate Dangote – Obasanjo published in Punch