“Bitter, Failed Governor and Copycat”: Tinubu Presidency Attacks Peter Obi Over ADC Defection

The Presidency has criticised Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing him as resentful over the 2023 election and questioning his leadership credentials.

In a statement on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s recent remarks showed continued dissatisfaction with the outcome of the last presidential election.

According to Onanuga, Obi’s comments at a recent political event reflected what he described as bitterness and an overreliance on foreign examples to justify his suitability for national leadership.

“What concerned me most were his references to books, professors, and other nations to support his belief that he has learnt from the masters and that Nigeria should be entrusted to him because he claims to know the secrets of national development,” Onanuga said.

He dismissed Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, where Obi served for eight years, describing his tenure as unsuccessful. Onanuga argued that Obi’s experience did not qualify him to lead the country, adding that his background as a businessman did not translate into proven leadership capacity at the national level.

Onanuga also criticised Obi’s use of foreign development models, warning against applying solutions from other countries without considering Nigeria’s specific context.

“Nations are not identical, and what worked in Indonesia or the United States may not necessarily work in Nigeria,” he said. “No country moves forward by copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Sustainable development requires locally designed solutions.”

The presidential aide contrasted Obi’s comments with the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration, pointing to economic restructuring since May 29, 2023.

According to Onanuga, the administration has removed petrol subsidies, reduced reliance on oil revenue, and shifted focus toward gas development while attracting both local and foreign investment. He also said Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased, the exchange rate has stabilised, and inflation is slowing.

He further cited major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, as evidence of the administration’s development agenda.

Onanuga added that planned tax reforms scheduled to begin in January are aimed at unifying Nigeria’s tax system, increasing revenue, and improving economic growth.

“For the past two years and seven months, President Tinubu has demonstrated leadership through deliberate policies and reforms,” he said.

Concluding his statement, Onanuga commented on Obi’s future political prospects, suggesting that his move from the Labour Party to the ADC could limit his influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said Obi’s defection may position him in a secondary role within the opposition, similar to previous political alignments witnessed in earlier election cycles.