Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, has lambasted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, calling him the major problem of Nigeria.
In an interview with Vanguard, the monarch said the former president was “running after” Lagos when in government, instead of focusing on the country’s investments.
“The major problem of Nigeria today is former President Olusegun Obasanjo. When he was in government, he was running after Lagos while someone was cornering all the blue-chip companies that belong to the country,” he said.
“He cannot win election in his ward in Abeokuta. He ignored all Supreme Court judgements which were in favour of Lagos state.”
Speaking about the 2019 elections, Akiolu advised Nigerians to vote for candidates based on their manifestoes and not for money.
“It is unfortunate; many Nigerians are deceiving themselves. The kind of politics we play here is ‘money politics.’ Politicians should bring their manifestoes and their followers should make sure they deliver on their promises,” he said.
“But for some people to line-up somewhere and be collecting $20,000, $25,000 to pick a presidential candidate is wrong.
“If the person gets there, he will first recoup his money. I pray those people should not get there.”
While praising President Muhammadu Buhari for not being “materialistic”, he labelled other politicians as thieves, adding that if they came to visit him he would tell them to their faces.
“It’s unfortunate that Buhari did not stay long as Head of State in 1984, Nigeria would have been better. Buhari is one of the few, politicians who are not materialistic,” he said.
“Majority of them are ‘grab –grab’ politicians. Let me use this medium to tell all those politicians moving about because election is coming, that if they are not ready to hear the truth, they should not come to my palace.
“I will tell them that they are thieves, Nigerians know them, and youths should not allow politicians to use them.”