Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized past Presidents and Vice-Presidents of Nigeria who own private universities.
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo owns Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun state, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is the founder of American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa state.
Speaking at the launch of Sahara Reporters’ Civic Media Lab, Falana said: “These guys who have restructured the economy of Nigeria. Or you are not aware that these guys restructured the economy of Nigeria to the extent that Nigeria is the only country today where former heads of states openly own universities.
“Have you ever heard of that anywhere in the world that the likes of Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida and others, own universities, and of course, the man who is now pushing for restructuring, Atiku, has a univerisity as well.”
“None of these guys worked outside the government. One was a customs officer, the others were soldiers; their pension cannot establish a primary school, not to talk of a university. For young people, I think there is enough provocation on the part of the ruling class,” he added.