Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a strong critique of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, warning that a government unable to guarantee the safety of its citizens lacks legitimacy.
Speaking in an interview with News Central, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s worsening security situation, marked by killings and widespread abductions, reflects a failure of leadership that cannot be ignored.
He argued that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, stressing that failure in that duty undermines its very existence.
“The government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizens has no right of existence,” he said.
Obasanjo’s comments come amid renewed concerns over insecurity across several parts of the country, where attacks by armed groups and kidnappings have continued to affect communities and heighten public anxiety.
The former president also used the platform to criticise aspects of Nigeria’s governance structure, particularly the process of determining salaries and allowances for federal lawmakers.
He insisted that members of the National Assembly should not have the authority to fix their own remuneration, arguing that such responsibility lies with the appropriate constitutional body.
According to him, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should be responsible for determining the pay structure of public officials, in line with constitutional provisions.
Obasanjo’s remarks add to growing public debate over security, governance, and accountability in Nigeria, with increasing pressure on authorities to address rising insecurity and restore public confidence.
