Presidency Slams Peter Obi: 'Licensed to Lie' and Unfit for Leadership!

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has launched a strong critique against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and his supporters. Onanuga, reacting to a recent response from the Anambra State Government regarding statements attributed to Obi, made his allegations in a series of posts on his X handle. He accused Obi's supporters of granting him a “licence to lie” by defending his claims even when they are contradicted by facts, asserting that they apply different ethical standards to Obi compared to other political figures.

Onanuga contended that this unwavering loyalty leads to hypocrisy and double standards, which he believes do not foster public accountability or ethical politics. He remarked that no one blames Obi for being a “pathological liar” because his followers allegedly respond by acknowledging his falsehoods but questioning the exposure of “a brother’s” lies. Onanuga urged those who genuinely support Peter Obi to advise him to cease his habit of making unsubstantiated claims to prevent constant embarrassment when confronted with inconvenient facts and truth.

The presidential aide further highlighted the perceived double standards by citing the controversy surrounding Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to support a candidate other than Obi. Onanuga argued that while Obi’s supporters view his own political choices as legitimate, they criticize Soludo for exercising the same right. He also referenced the Anambra government's position that Obi has consistently criticized his predecessors and successors in office, while portraying himself as the sole political figure capable of advancing the state, allegedly using a media team, including Val Obienyem, to sustain these criticisms.

Onanuga also faulted Obi’s approach to governance, describing it as structured by his trading experience. He argued that the former governor’s emphasis on government savings and interest income should not be considered the primary measure of governmental performance. Instead, he asserted that governance should be assessed by its tangible impact on citizens’ welfare, security, and living conditions, rather than merely by the accumulation of funds. Onanuga explicitly stated his verdict that such a governance philosophy renders Obi unfit to govern Nigeria.

The criticism formed part of what Onanuga termed “Deconstructing Peter Obi,” where he underscored four quotable quotes from the Anambra government’s response. These included observations on the blind loyalty of Obi's followers, his perceived “licence to lie,” the condemnation faced by anyone who exposes his alleged falsehoods, and the selective application of rights concerning political support. Onanuga used these points to caution Nigerians about Obi’s candidacy, arguing that his media packaging has worked to create an image of him as “the only next big thing after God” while demarketing others.