Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, says Bola Tinubu has no involvement in the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement posted on X on Monday titled “My Response to Peter Obi’s Media Team,” Onanuga said it was wrong for some politicians to make Tinubu a “whipping boy” for political problems they created themselves.
“I wonder why all these incompetent politicians are turning President Bola Tinubu into their favourite whipping boy,” he wrote.
“The President has nothing to do with Obi’s abandonment of the Labour Party or the situation he appears to have run into in the ADC.
“After using the Labour Party to contest for the highest office in the country, Obi dumped it in a classic case of use-and-dump.”
He said Obi failed to demonstrate leadership in resolving the internal crisis in the Labour Party, adding that the former governor of Anambra instead relied on his support base in the Obidient movement rather than building a political structure.
“Instead, he embraced his IPOB-aligned base, the so-called Obidient movement, which is more active online,” Onanuga said.
“You would think he would transform the movement into a political party. But no, he didn’t do any such thing. He is simply incapable of building an organic party of his own.”
The presidential spokesperson said Obi joined the ADC because he needed an existing political structure to pursue his presidential ambition.
“Because he knows he needs a political structure to realise what he described as his ‘doomed’ presidential ambition, he opted for an already established party,” he said.
He also alleged that the ADC was acquired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“The peripatetic politician moved to the allegedly hijacked ADC, an SPV reportedly bought by Atiku Abubakar from Ralph Nwosu,” he said.
“No due diligence appears to have been conducted by the new stakeholders, hence the challenges they are now facing.”
Onanuga reiterated that Tinubu has no role in the crisis affecting the party.
“What is the connection between Tinubu and the ADC crisis? Absolutely none. Whatever problem they have is self-inflicted,” he said.
He urged Obi and his associates to focus on resolving internal party issues.
“Obi and his associates need to get their acts together, resolve the crisis in their new party, and then compete for the presidential ticket,” he said.
“Let them go and reconcile with Nafiu Gombe and other aggrieved ADC members.”
Onanuga added that Obi remains politically irrelevant ahead of the 2027 elections until he secures a party ticket, noting that his performance in the 2023 polls does not guarantee similar results.
“As of now, Obi, without being a candidate, is inconsequential for 2027,” he said.
“The fact that he came third in 2023 does not mean he will replicate that performance in 2027, if he eventually becomes a candidate of any party.”
Onanuga said Tinubu, as the incumbent president, has achievements to showcase.
“President Tinubu is an incumbent with many achievements to present, most of which Obi has failed to acknowledge,” he said.
“First things first—let him become a candidate. All this criticism of the President is baseless and an unfair attempt to tarnish his democratic credentials.”
