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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has launched a scathing attack on former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, mocking his recent move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the latest stop in a career of political nomadism.
In a post on his X handle (@bayoonanuga1956), Onanuga described watching Obi formally join the ADC after ditching the Labour Party, the platform he used for his “ill-fated presidential ambition” in 2023.
“About three years after the 2023 election, Obi, the wandering politician — who moved from APGA to PDP to Labour and now ADC — still sounded bitter about coming third,” Onanuga wrote.
“He continues to claim he was robbed of victory, even though empirical analyses of the poll showed he could not have won and was fortunate to even emerge third because of the anomalous polling figures recorded for him in his South East region.”
Onanuga highlighted Obi’s speech at the event, where the former Anambra State governor referenced books, professors, and other nations to argue his suitability for leadership.
“What concerned me most were his references to books, professors, and other nations to buttress his belief that he has learnt from the masters and that Nigeria should be entrusted to him because he claims to know the secrets of national development,” Onanuga stated.
“This posturing should be taken with a pinch of salt, coming from a politician who was an abysmal failure in a small state like Anambra, which he governed for 8 years.”
The presidential aide dismissed Obi’s credentials outright, asserting, “Because Obi sorely lacks the leadership pedigree, beyond being a successful importer, only the madman he consults in Onitsha would be comfortable handing over Nigeria to him.”
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Onanuga further critiqued Obi’s approach to governance, arguing against blind imitation of foreign models.
“However, Obi’s reasoning is flawed. Nations are not identical, and what worked in Indonesia or the USA may not necessarily work in Nigeria. No leader can move a country forward by simply copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Nations require original thinkers, not copycats. Homegrown solutions are essential for proper development.”
In contrast, Onanuga praised President Tinubu’s administration for delivering tangible progress since May 29, 2023. He listed key achievements, including economic restructuring, the elimination of wasteful petrol subsidies, reduced oil dependency, and a push for gas development that has attracted foreign and local investments.
“Foreign reserves have risen, and the exchange rate has stabilised. Inflation is decelerating,” Onanuga noted.
“The administration has also embarked on ambitious road projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, which Obi and his associates consider impossible.”
Looking ahead, Onanuga highlighted upcoming tax reforms set for January, aimed at harmonising the tax regime, boosting the tax-to-GDP ratio, enhancing revenue, and driving prosperity.
“For the past two years and seven months, Tinubu has demonstrated effective leadership anchored in strategic policies and reforms,” he emphasised.
Onanuga predicted a diminished role for Obi, claiming his animosity blinds him to these gains.
“Obi is so blind that he cannot see all these achievements, as he jumped from Labour to ADC, where he will play second fiddle and end up being Atiku’s running mate in 2027, like we witnessed in 2019.”
