Obasanjo best performing president since 1999 – Former Spokesman, Laolu Akande

Laolu Akande, former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of Nigeria’s best-performing leaders since 1999, but faulted his push for a third term.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Akande said Obasanjo relied on bullying tactics to drive his third-term agenda, taking advantage of the fact that many in power at the time could not resist him.

His comments come amid Obasanjo’s recent denial of reports that he lobbied to extend his stay in office. The former president has long been accused of bribing lawmakers in a failed bid to amend the constitution for a third term, a move that was ultimately blocked by the National Assembly.

He said: “Ex-President Obasanjo is about the best-performing president since 1999. We cannot deny that. And it’s not easy even for me to say that because I saw another administration. But we cannot deny the fact that so far, President Obasanjo’s administration is the one that has the highest level of success.

“So we must understand the strategy of President Obasanjo. He knows that he has the bully pulpit, and he uses it to raise a loud voice, knowing that the people who would counter him don’t have an equally loud voice.”