Onanuga dismissed the notion that Buhari’s widespread support in the North was solely responsible for his electoral victories in 2015 and 2019.

President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, has come under fire on social media over remarks he made concerning the role his principal played in the emergence of the late Muhammadu Buhari as President in 2015.

The backlash followed a now-deleted post Onanuga made on Tuesday, just hours before Buhari’s burial, which many users criticised as insensitive and politically opportunistic, coming at a time when the former President’s family and supporters were still mourning.

The controversy began after an X user, @DeeOneAyekooto, shared a nostalgic video of Buhari’s 2015 campaign rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling it an “unforgettable” moment.

In response, Onanuga dismissed the notion that Buhari’s widespread support in the North was solely responsible for his electoral victories in 2015 and 2019.

He instead highlighted Tinubu’s role in building the political coalition that brought Buhari to power — a comment many saw as inappropriately timed and self-serving in the context of Buhari’s passing.

“A video to rejig the memory of those who claimed only Buhari’s 12 million votes gave him the presidency in 2015 and 2019,” Onanuga wrote.

The presidential spokesperson’s post also countered a claim by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who attributed Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential victory primarily to his personal integrity, while downplaying the role of Tinubu and the party merger that produced the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mustapha had suggested that the merger contributed only about 20 percent of the 15.4 million votes garnered by the late Daura-born politician in the 2015 election.

However, some X users condemned Onanuga for the timing of the post.

For instance, @OmonLakiki wrote: “It is such a shame that President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, does not have respect for the dead. To imagine that @aonanuga1956 would post and then delete this ahead of the burial of Buhari.”

@Klara_Ernest wrote: “I am wondering how and where they intend to get the votes to re-elect Tinubu in 2027 after insulting everybody.”

@Morris_Sylva85 wrote: “@aonanuga1956 is a well known tribal Nigerian and ethnic bigot. His tails mustn't be hidden. We know him for what he is. Even in PMB death, he couldn't hide his hatred of him. Tueh…”

@NkirukaNistoran wrote: “Bayo is an ethnic bigot and doesn’t hide it. So you’re mocking a man who got 12M votes in the North alone? How many votes did Tinubu get in the South or the whole country? APC allow Buhari to rest. You attacked him while he was alive, now that he’s dead, just leave him in peace.”

“The haste to criticise Buhari's legacy by Bayo Onanuga, before his burial speaks volumes about the values of those around Tinubu. It reveals a lack of loyalty and respect. The contrast between the silence during Buhari's tenure and the criticism after his passing is telling,” @handed14 wrote.

@Dangbanamanager wrote: “Bayo Onanuga Tinubu’s right-hand man didn’t even wait for Buhari to be buried before tearing down his legacy. That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of people Tinubu surrounds himself with.

“No loyalty, no honour. And if you’re wondering what the South West really thinks of General Buhari, look no further silence while he was in power, disrespect the moment he’s gone.”