President Bola Tinubu’s administration has responded to criticism from Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who claimed that democracy in Nigeria has failed. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, disputes Obi’s assertion, labeling it as exaggerated and devoid of logical basis.
Onanuga posits that Nigeria’s democracy remains intact and has, in fact, strengthened over the past 26 years. He also points out that Obi’s ability to freely express his views is, in itself, proof that democracy is still thriving in the country.
In a statement on X, Onanuga wrote, “I have listened to Peter Obi’s comments multiple times, and I must say that his remarks, while likely to grab headlines, lack depth and a solid logical foundation. Can a democracy that has grown stronger over 26 years truly be said to have collapsed?”
Obi made the contentious comment during the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja. He lamented that, despite laying the groundwork for democratic governance in 1999, progress had been undone, leaving the system ineffective. Obi highlighted his personal experience, contrasting past administrations’ role in protecting democratic values with the current situation, which he claimed has seen democracy undermined by political influence.
Onanuga urged Obi to be more cautious with his words, suggesting that he refrain from making sensational comments. He emphasized that if democracy had indeed failed, as Obi claimed, the latter would not have been able to express his opinions freely.
