According to Daily Independent, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has questioned whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves another four years in office, pointing to the economic difficulties many Nigerians continue to face under the current administration.
In a report published on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Obasanjo challenged the argument that Tinubu should be given a second term to complete his policies and allow his administration to achieve its objectives. He questioned the need for more time if the economic measures being implemented continued to place pressure on ordinary citizens and businesses.
The former president’s comments focused on concerns about the rising cost of living, the value of the naira and the effect of government policies on household incomes. He suggested that the performance of any administration should be assessed by the improvements it delivers to the lives of citizens rather than by the promise that its policies need more time to produce results.
Obasanjo also raised questions about the justification for continuing policies that, in his view, have contributed to economic hardship. He argued that Nigerians should be able to see clear benefits from the decisions made by their leaders, especially when those decisions affect their ability to afford basic necessities.
To support his argument, the former president referred to Ghana’s exchange rate, claiming that the country’s president inherited a rate of about 16 cedis to the United States dollar, which reportedly improved to around 10 cedis within six months. He used the example to draw attention to the role government decisions can play in shaping a country’s economic situation.
However, Obasanjo also acknowledged that changes in exchange rates can have different effects on different groups. He referred to concerns reportedly raised by cocoa farmers in Ghana over the appreciation of the cedi, which affected the prices they received for their produce.
According to his account, the farmers appealed to their president to take measures to moderate the currency’s appreciation and address their concerns. The example illustrated how a stronger currency may benefit some parts of an economy while creating difficulties for others, particularly producers who depend on export earnings.
Obasanjo’s comparison highlighted the importance of considering how economic policies affect different sections of society. He suggested that governments should look beyond economic figures and examine whether their decisions are improving people’s daily lives.
His criticism became more direct when he addressed arguments that Tinubu should be allowed to complete his policies during a second term.
Questioning this position, Obasanjo challenged those supporting an extension of the president’s tenure to explain what policies they believed were worth continuing despite the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
“What policies are you seeing through? You impoverish your people and you want to see impoverishment through? What are you seeing through?” Obasanjo asked.
His remarks have brought renewed attention to the debate over Tinubu’s performance and the question of whether continuity in government would deliver better economic outcomes. While supporters of a second term may argue that more time is needed for existing policies to produce results, Obasanjo’s position, as reported, places greater emphasis on the immediate impact of those policies on citizens.
Ultimately, his comments underline the continuing debate over economic reform, public welfare and the standards Nigerians should use when assessing the performance of their elected leaders.
COURTESY: Richyajisunwon
