Osunbor: Tinubu’s Re-Election Could Doom Nigeria, Says EFCC Cases Define His Inner Circle

Former Edo State Governor and Professor of Law, Oserheimen Osunbor, has warned that Nigeria could be “doomed” if President Bola Tinubu is re-elected in 2027.

Osunbor asserted this during a television interview while discussing the administration of President Tinubu and the quality of individuals around the corridors of power.

The former governor, who spent 17 years of his working life in Lagos, including serving as a lecturer at the University of Lagos and Lagos State University, said he could ordinarily be described as a “Lagos boy” but lacked what he called certain traits allegedly required for acceptance within the ruling circle.

According to him, some individuals within the current political establishment have corruption allegations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cases or other controversial records hanging over them.

“It is well known now that those within that circle are people who have EFCC cases hanging on their heads, people who have been indicted in one way or the other.”

Osunbor also alleged that some members of the political establishment had faced legal troubles abroad, including asset forfeiture and disbarment, and questioned the implications of having such individuals occupy positions of authority in Nigeria.

He said the situation was unfortunate, particularly when compared with Nigeria’s enormous human resources and the achievements of Nigerians in other countries.

The former governor lamented the decline in the country’s standard of governance, saying Nigeria had the human capital and natural resources to perform far better than it currently does.

He argued that leadership has a significant influence on the behaviour of citizens, particularly young Nigerians.

According to him, some young people engage in criminal and antisocial activities because they emulate what they perceive from those occupying positions of power.

Osunbor, however, said Nigeria was not beyond redemption, expressing the belief that the emergence of the right leadership could inspire citizens and reverse the country’s trajectory.

He urged Nigerians to use the 2027 elections to choose credible leaders committed to the rule of law and better governance.

“It is now left to Nigerians to decide whether we want to continue to allow ourselves to be humiliated with this kind of people running the affairs of our country, or we should rescue or redeem our nation by electing more credible people.”

The former governor further warned that Nigeria could sink deeper into what he described as a “morass” if the current political direction continued.

“For me, what is uppermost is who can rescue Nigeria, because Nigeria has to exist before you talk of north or south, east or west,” he said.

“Nigeria will be doomed if this government is not changed next year.”