Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Spokesperson Labels Atiku Aged 77 as Shameless | a Demagogue and Anarchist

Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential Media aide and a prominent mouthpiece for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took a strong stance against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar‘s behavior calling him a demagogue and anarchist. President Tinubu’s Media Aide released the tentative official statement following Atiku’s Monday 30th press conference where he (Atiku) reacted to the Supreme Court verdict on 2023 Presidential election petitions.

Bayo Onanuga criticized Atiku’s actions, stating, “We were wrong to expect that Atiku at 77 would play the statesman and sportsman and accept, with equanimity, the verdict of the highest court and the people of Nigeria.” He accused Atiku of seeking to delegitimize the country’s institutions in a bid to overturn the election results.

Atiku Accused of Seeking to Manipulate Public Opinion

At the press conference, Atiku launched a scathing attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, for their roles in his electoral defeat. Onanuga stated, “Atiku tried very hard to perfect his act of misinformation by seeking to lay claim to faux morality and higher ideals when in actual fact his entire life is antithetical to any higher ideals.” He went on to accuse Atiku of hypocrisy, highlighting Atiku’s association with the military junta that held Nigeria hostage and imprisoned his mentor, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd).

Atiku’s Perceived Threat to Democracy

Bayo Onanuga further criticized Atiku’s approach to democracy, claiming that Atiku sees democracy as dysfunctional unless it aligns with his ambitions. “For him, democracy should either go his way or the highway,” Onanuga remarked. He emphasized that Atiku’s negative view of Nigeria and democracy stems from his personal disappointment in the election results, stating, “The PDP candidate said Nigeria is doomed just because he failed to achieve his personal ambition.”

Tinubu’s Leadership Praised

Bayo Onanuga expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, highlighting that Nigeria is on a positive trajectory under his guidance. He stated, “Nigeria is moving forward and set to achieve its manifest destiny as one of the most respected and successful nations of the world under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” Onanuga pointed out that the recent election results demonstrated the vibrancy of Nigeria’s democracy, with a diverse National Assembly reflecting the choices and preferences of voters.

Bayo Onanuga Strong Rebuttal of Atiku’s Claims

Regarding Atiku’s claims that the election was rigged and that the results were manipulated, Bayo Onanuga asserted that “votes count” in today’s Nigeria. He highlighted that local and international observers have praised the electoral process, and he clarified that the Independent Results Viewing (IReV) system was not designed for online collation but for public result viewing.

Assessment of Atiku’s Electoral Strategy

Onanuga dissected Atiku’s electoral strategy, pointing out that the former Vice President’s campaign was hampered by a fragmented party platform. He explained, “Atiku lost because he went into a major election with a fragmented and tattered umbrella that could not hold together.” Bayo Onanuga contrasted this with the All Progressives Congress (APC), which ran a unified and coordinated campaign.

Allegations of Corruption Against Atiku

In his statement, Onanuga accused Atiku of hypocrisy, stating that Atiku’s claim to “integrity” was at odds with his alleged involvement in corruption. He referenced a bribery scandal in which Atiku was reportedly implicated, resulting in the imprisonment of Congressman William Jefferson.

Finalizing his reactions, Bayo Onanuga offered some lessons for the future. He called for stronger institutions that can identify and withstand the influence of individuals who aim to destabilize the nation. Onanuga also suggested that those who repeatedly lose in elections and threaten the country’s stability should be excluded from the political process, asserting that “if they don’t win the battle, they might burn the nation.”

In summary, the press statement by Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s spokesperson, delivered a scathing critique of Atiku Abubakar’s post-election behavior and reaffirmed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic progress under President Tinubu’s leadership. The statement has ignited a fresh debate on the state of Nigerian politics, with opinions divided on the merits of the accusations and criticisms made by Onanuga.