A former President and African Union of Journalists leader, Lanre Ogundipe, on Monday challenged prominent political figures, including Senator David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over their recent public statements on Nigeria’s economic and security crises, questioning the sincerity and moral authority behind their critiques.
In a press statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Ogundipe acknowledged that the nation faces severe economic strain, rising insecurity, institutional decay, and declining public confidence.
However, he noted that the leaders making these observations are themselves long-serving former officeholders, whose tenures coincided with the emergence of many of today’s systemic challenges.
“Truth is essential, but credibility is decisive,” Ogundipe said, emphasizing that public critique carries weight only when paired with honest self-introspection. He warned that without acknowledgment of their own past policy failures, statements risk being seen as “cynical political repositioning.”
Outlining a three-point expectation for senior leaders, the former President, said: ‘’A candid accounting of their role in shaping current national realities, practical and specific solutions, beyond general statements, and a willingness to challenge entrenched political interests are key’’.
Ogundipe urged all leaders, past and present, to prioritise Nigeria’s long-term stability and prosperity over partisan ambition.
“Public trust, once fundamentally eroded, cannot be reclaimed by statements alone,” he said.
