Govt that can’t protect lives has no right to exist – Obasanjo blasts Tinubu administration

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, specifically targeting the worsening state of national security. In a recent interview with News Central, the former leader argued that the primary justification for any government is its ability to protect the governed. He expressed deep concern over the persistent wave of killings and abductions that have become a daily reality for many Nigerians.  

The former president emphasized that the safety of citizens is a non-negotiable duty of the state. He warned that treating violent crimes as a routine occurrence signals a dangerous collapse of institutional responsibility. Obasanjo stated: “Let me tell you, the government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizen has no right of existence.”  

Beyond security, Obasanjo criticized the financial conduct of the legislative arm of government. He revisited the long-standing controversy surrounding the earnings of federal lawmakers, describing their role in determining their own pay as a violation of the law. He argued that the power to set such figures lies exclusively with a specific regulatory body.  

Addressing the legality of legislative pay, he noted: “The elected members of our National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary and their own emolument.” He insisted that by taking control of their own compensation, lawmakers are bypassing the checks and balances intended to maintain fiscal transparency.  

The former leader pointed out that this practice directly contradicts the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. He maintained that there is a designated constitutional agency responsible for managing the salaries of public office holders. He remarked: “It’s not in our constitution for them to do that. It’s the revenue mobilization and allocation commission that should do it.”  

Obasanjo’s comments come amid broader criticisms of the Tinubu administration’s handling of regional stability and domestic economic pressures. His interview highlights a growing demand from elder statesmen for a return to constitutional order and more effective governance. As of Monday evening, the presidency has not issued a formal rebuttal to the former president’s remarks.