President Muhammadu Buhari says former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s habit of always attacking and criticising his regime was out of jealousy.

Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for Mr Buhari, made this reaction to Mr Obasanjo’s new year message in a statement on Monday.

“One is that he will not stop attacking President Muhammadu Buhari because the former President won’t stop being jealous of anyone who beats him to a new record in the nation’s development process,” Mr Shehu said.

He further said, “clearly, Obasanjo has become even more jealous by adopting a vengeful attitude. To say that “frying pan to fire” is the situation in Nigeria at this time should be read to mean a personal experience to him and we know what that means.”

Nigerians have questioned Mr Shehu’s claim that the Buhari regime has in its nearly eight years of governance, done better than Mr Obasanjo’s administration.

Mr Obasanjo, who on Monday, endorsed Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer Peter Obi, had repeatedly condemned the increased borrowing and debt accumulation under the Buhari regime.

In the same new year message, Mr Obasanjo lamenting insecurity, and increasing debt under Mr Buhari’s regime.

“Nigeria has no business with insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity. We are in these situations because advertently or inadvertently, our leaders have made the choices.

“They have done the best they could do. Let them take their rest deservedly or not and let them enjoy their retirement as Septuagenarians or older,” the former president said.