The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, has condemned Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, for his recent statements about the planned nationwide protests.
Onanuga had claimed that “the malcontents planning to stage nationwide protests are supporters of Peter Obi, the failed presidential candidate of the Labour Party. And that Obi should be held responsible for whatever crisis that emanates from the protest.”
He also accused Obi’s supporters, known as “Obidients,” of plotting to unseat President Tinubu under the guise of protests.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo reacted to Onanuga’s statement, saying: “Ohanaeze views the above remarks by Onanuga as true to type. On March 19, 2023, Onanuga was reported by several news media to have issued a serious warning to the Igbo stating, ‘Let 2023 be the last time of Igbo interference in Lagos politics. Let there be no repeat in 2027.’ When many well-meaning Nigerians including Mr. Festus Keyamo cautioned Onanuga on the ignoble path he has chosen for himself, he was quoted to have stated: ‘I owe no one apology for ethnic slur against Igbo.'”
The organization further stated: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo views Onanuga’s bizarre dispositions towards anything Igbo as unthoughtful, loathsome, cantankerous, uncouth, repugnant, inflammable, repugnant and full of deep-seated hate.”
They urged Onanuga to channel his energy towards helping President Tinubu address the challenges facing the country, rather than fueling ethnic tensions.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also reminded Onanuga that “the prevailing hardship in Nigeria is blind to ethnicity” and that “this is a time for the Presidency to initiate policies, programmes, activities and a body language that will appeal to or assuage the downtrodden, dispossessed, oppressed, the deprived, including Obidients.”
They emphasized that issuing threats to the masses is not the solution to the country’s problems.
