Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser for Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has criticized Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, over his New Year’s remarks about Nigeria’s current state. Onanuga accused Obi of pessimism and portraying a bleak outlook on the nation’s future instead of encouraging optimism as the new year begins.
Onanuga’s remarks followed Obi’s statement on the arise news , where the former Anambra State governor expressed concerns about worsening economic, political, and security conditions in the country.
Onanuga’s remarks on his X handle came in response to Obi’s New Year’s message shared on his X account, where the former governor of Anambra State expressed concerns over the nation’s worsening political, economic, and security challenges.
Criticizing Obi’s statement, Onanuga accused him of engaging in a “campaign of calumny” against Tinubu’s administration, alleging that Obi’s message sought to paint a misleading picture of Nigeria’s progress.
“While Nigerians celebrated the new year with hope for a more glorious 2025, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, was seemingly stuck in a replay of his jangling, gloom-ridden wishlist for our country,” Onanuga stated.
In his New Year’s address, Obi highlighted the nation’s economic and social challenges, asserting that over 100 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, while more than 150 million experience multidimensional poverty. He further criticized the government for failing to address these issues over the past two years, claiming that Nigeria’s fortunes were in “clear reverse.”
Obi’s statement pointed to a decline in key indicators, suggesting the country remains one of the global poverty capitals. “Nigerians are losing hope,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the nation’s deteriorating situation.
Onanuga dismissed Obi’s claims as politically motivated and unfounded, asserting that Nigeria is witnessing significant improvements across various sectors.
“Obi’s New Year message, in which he claimed that our dear country’s political, economic, and security situation is worsening daily, is misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points,” Onanuga said.
He further described Obi as a “doomsayer” whose comments were disconnected from the current realities of Nigeria’s progress.
More Read
This exchange adds to the ongoing political discourse between supporters of the Tinubu administration and the Labour Party, reflecting divergent views on the nation’s state and its future trajectory.
