The Presidency has criticized supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing them of giving him a "licence to lie." Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the allegations in a series of posts on his X handle. He claimed Obi's supporters defend him even when his claims are disputed with facts. Onanuga argued that this attitude promotes hypocrisy and double standards in politics.
Onanuga's comments were in response to the Anambra State Government's reaction to statements attributed to Obi. He alleged that Obi's supporters apply different standards to him compared to other political actors. The presidential aide cited the controversy over Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo's decision to support a candidate other than Obi. Onanuga argued that Obi's supporters consider his political choices legitimate while criticizing Soludo for exercising the same right.
The presidential aide further criticized Obi's approach to governance, emphasizing that savings and interest income should not be the sole measures of government performance. He argued that governance should also be assessed by its impact on citizens' welfare and security. Onanuga's posts were part of what he called "Deconstructing Peter Obi," a series of criticisms against the former governor.
Onanuga accused Obi's supporters of not holding him accountable for his claims, even when they are false. He stated that supporters respond to criticism by saying they know Obi is lying but question why anyone should expose the alleged falsehoods of "a brother." The presidential aide described this attitude as hypocritical and argued that it does not promote public accountability or ethical politics.
The Anambra State Government had previously responded to claims made by Obi. Onanuga's criticism of Obi also included his relationship with predecessors and successors in Anambra. He alleged that Obi consistently sought to "demarket" those who held the office before and after him. This criticism sparked a renewed debate about Obi's political style and governance approach.
Obi's supporters have not publicly responded to Onanuga's allegations. However, the criticism from the Presidency is likely to fuel further debate about Obi's campaign and governance style. As a prominent political figure, Obi's actions and statements are closely scrutinized by the public and the media.
The controversy highlights the polarized nature of Nigerian politics, with different groups holding distinct views on key issues. The exchange between Onanuga and Obi's supporters underscores the challenges of promoting accountability and transparency in politics. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact Obi's campaign and Nigeria's political landscape.
Key points
- The Presidency has accused Peter Obi's supporters of enabling him to make false claims by defending him even when his statements are disputed with facts.
- The criticism has sparked a renewed debate about Obi's governance style and approach to politics.
- The controversy highlights the polarized nature of Nigerian politics and the challenges of promoting accountability and transparency.
