Debt worse than leprosy, Obasanjo counters Tinubu

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s position on government borrowing, describing excessive debt as "worse than leprosy" because, while leprosy destroys one person, debt destroys generations. Speaking on Friday at the Ajibosin Platform in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo dismissed Tinubu’s earlier assertion that borrowing is not inherently harmful if the government has the capacity to repay it.

According to Daily Post Nigeria, Tinubu had previously stated during a meeting with Plateau leaders that the administration would continue to borrow when necessary and that borrowing should not be viewed negatively. Punch reports that this follows the President's request to the National Assembly for fresh external loans totaling $20.52bn and €1.045bn under a supplementary borrowing plan for 2026–2027. These funds are intended to finance various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, Daily Post Nigeria — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.