Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Femi Adesina, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the late President Muhammadu Buhari for eight years, has pointed a finger at "weak political leadership" as the primary driver of Nigeria's socio-economic decline — a critique that has drawn sharp reactions given his own role as the chief defender of the administration he now implicitly condemns.
Speaking on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the inaugural annual public lecture hosted by the Foursquare Gospel Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adesina lamented that Nigeria's vast potential remains largely untapped due to systemic failures, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and high unemployment rates. "Nigeria is endowed with both human and natural resources, but unfortunately, it has not translated to wealth," Adesina remarked, according to multiple reports.
The lecture, themed "Nigeria's Kinetics: How Long?", provided a platform for the former presidential spokesperson to reflect on the country's trajectory. He noted that despite Nigeria's abundance of natural resources, a large youthful population, and favourable geography, these advantages have yet to translate into meaningful national wealth or improved quality of life for its citizens. He observed that throughout the country's history, leaders from the First Republic to the present administration have consistently spoken of a bright future and untapped potential — promises that, he said, have frequently gone unfulfilled.
However, many Nigerians have been quick to point out the irony of Adesina's remarks. For eight years, he was the public face of the Buhari administration, defending its policies, justifying its failures, and spinning its narratives. He was the man who told Nigerians that Buhari's frequent medical trips to London were necessary, that the economy was on the right track, and that the country was slowly but surely being rescued from the brink. Now, with Buhari gone, Adesina speaks of "weak political leadership" as if he had no part in it.
Critics have noted that Adesina's lecture conveniently omits any mention of his own role in perpetuating the very leadership failures he now decries. The Nigerian Medical Association had previously criticised Adesina for suggesting that Buhari could have died if he had relied on Nigerian hospitals, a comment that reflected the administration's disregard for the country's healthcare system. Now, the same man who once defended the indefensible is being celebrated in some quarters as a voice of conscience.
Adesina's remarks have also drawn attention to a broader pattern among former Buhari aides who, after leaving office, have suddenly discovered the failures of the administration they once served. From ministers to spokespersons, a growing number of former officials have begun to distance themselves from the Buhari legacy, blaming "systemic failures" and "weak institutions" for the country's woes — as if they had no hand in creating or sustaining them.
The lecture also featured insights from columnist Lasisi Olagunju, who questioned the country's current political structure. Olagunju suggested that Nigeria's challenges intensified with the shift toward a unitary system, noting that the nation experienced more significant growth when true federalism was practiced. Attendees and speakers alike emphasized that the responsibility for national development lies with all Nigerians, with some participants expressing concern that current and past generations have failed to live up to their obligations to the country.
For Adesina, the challenge is clear: if he truly believes that weak political leadership is the problem, he must also answer the question of what he did — or failed to do — during his eight years in power to strengthen that leadership. Until he does, his words will ring hollow, a reminder that in Nigeria, even those who once held the levers of power are quick to blame the system they helped create.
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