Presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga has launched a blistering attack on Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, describing his recent appearance on Channels Television as a public relations disaster that exposed what he called many lies and political inconsistencies.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle, Onanuga said he switched off the interview after about 30 minutes, arguing that rather than reviving Obi’s perceived dwindling 2027 presidential ambition, the interview only triggered widespread criticism.
Onanuga faulted Obi’s attempt to compare his political journey with that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye questioned him about frequently changing political parties.
According to the presidential aide, Tinubu has remained ideologically consistent throughout his political career, beginning with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), through the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and ultimately the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He recounted Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle, his resistance to military rule, detention, exile, and his efforts to build successive political platforms rather than defecting to rival parties.
“Tinubu remained true to his ideological persuasion. He did not jump to the PDP when the Alliance for Democracy faced setbacks. Instead, he built a new political platform from the ground up, which eventually evolved into today’s APC,” Onanuga said.
In contrast, he accused Obi of repeatedly abandoning political parties after benefiting from them.
Onanuga noted that Obi was elected governor of Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the 2019 presidential election as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, moved to the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 election, and has now aligned with another political platform.
“You do not build; you always want to reap where you did not sow,” he said, adding that Obi would likely leave his current political platform if it failed to satisfy his presidential ambition.
The presidential spokesman also criticised Obi for maintaining that he was denied victory in the 2023 presidential election despite the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Tinubu’s victory.
He said Okinbaloye gave Obi an opportunity during the interview to acknowledge the election outcome, but the former Anambra governor instead insisted he had been rigged out.
“You lost the election. You came third, and more than three years after the Supreme Court dismissed your petition, you are still in denial,” Onanuga said.
He urged Obi to accept the outcome of the 2023 presidential election and move on.
“Mr Obi, it is time you accepted the stark reality of the loss. Stop dreaming of a victory that you never had,” the statement concluded.
