Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information Strategy, has criticised Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, over his claim that democracy in Nigeria has collapsed.
Speaking at the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja on Monday, Obi expressed concerns about Nigeria’s democratic progress since 1999, stating that recent developments had reversed previous gains.
He likened Nigeria’s democratic growth to a building project, suggesting that while past administrations had laid a foundation and attempted to construct higher levels, the current leadership had dismantled those efforts, leaving the country in disarray.
Obi further recalled his own experience of being declared governor through the courts during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, emphasising that such judicial independence was now questionable.
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He argued that his victory was based solely on legal merit, without external influence or financial inducement, and suggested that such a scenario might be unlikely in today’s Nigeria.
Reacting to the 63-year-old remark, Onanuga described Obi’s statement on his X page Tuesday as lacking deep reflection and a solid logical foundation.
He said, “I listened multiple times to former Governor Peter Obi’s statement in this clip, where he claims that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria. His hyperbolic remarks, suited for headlines, have been made without deep reflection and lack a solid logical foundation.
“How can a democracy that has strengthened over the past 26 years be said to have collapsed? Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter, who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides, could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens.
“If democracy had indeed collapsed, as Peter claims, and we were living under a regime antithetical to democratic principles, he would not have been able to make his comments on Monday at Emeka Ihedioha’s colloquium. I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing in the gallery.”
