“Only a Disgruntled Peter Obi Sees Democracy’s Collapse” – Onanuga

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed Peter Obi’s claims that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, describing them as exaggerated and baseless.

Obi, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), recently stated that the country’s democratic system was being “knocked down” under Tinubu’s administration. His remarks were in response to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State and the president’s intervention through a state of emergency.

Reacting in a post on his X page, Onanuga criticized Obi’s stance, arguing that democracy in Nigeria remains intact and has only strengthened over the past 26 years. He accused Obi of making misleading statements, saying:

“His hyperbolic remarks, suited for headlines, have been made without deep reflection and lack a solid logical foundation. How can a democracy that has strengthened over the past 26 years be said to have collapsed? Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter, who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides, could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens.”

Onanuga further stated that if democracy had truly collapsed, Obi would not have had the freedom to make such statements publicly. He urged the former Anambra governor to be mindful of his words and avoid playing to the gallery.

Obi had also referenced his impeachment in 2006 by the Anambra House of Assembly under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, emphasizing that he was reinstated by the courts without external interference. However, Onanuga dismissed this as irrelevant to the current situation, insisting that Obi’s concerns stem from personal dissatisfaction rather than reality.

The exchange follows Tinubu’s March 18 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, citing prolonged political instability and the vandalization of oil facilities. The president’s decision led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all state House of Assembly members for six months. A retired vice-admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, was appointed as the state’s sole administrator. The move, ratified by the National Assembly on March 20, has faced criticism from various political stakeholders, including the South-South Governors’ Forum.

Tinubu’s decision has drawn comparisons to past emergency declarations, such as Obasanjo’s 2004 intervention in Plateau State, where Governor Joshua Dariye and the state legislature were suspended, and a retired general, Chris Alli, was appointed sole administrator. As political tensions persist, Onanuga’s remarks reinforce the administration’s position that Nigeria’s democratic institutions remain intact despite ongoing disputes.