Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has warned former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to be cautious about his words after he declared that democracy in Nigeria has died.
Obi, addressing former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha’s 60th birthday colloquium in Abuja on Monday, said Nigeria’s progress since returning to civilian rule in 1999 has been eroded.
He stated, “If you looked at where we are today, it’s like they (the PDP) started in 1999, laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to decking, and some people were trying to take it to the first floor when some people came and knocked everything down.
“That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down, and nothing works. I am somebody who can say this, exemplarily. I became a governor through the courts when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government.
“I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office when the court declared me the winner, and the governor was not seeing them. This cannot happen in Nigeria today.”
In response to the allegations, Onanuga, in a post on X (previously Twitter), criticised Obi’s accusations as overstated and without a logical foundation, saying that democracy in Nigeria has only become stronger over the last 26 years.
“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,” Onanuga wrote.
The special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy further stated that if democracy had truly crumbled, Obi would not have been able to speak himself so freely at the colloquium.
“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,” he stated.
Onanuga cautioned Obi against making statements that could mislead the public, urging him to exercise restraint and avoid what he described as playing to the gallery.
“I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery,” he added.
