A presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has taken to social media on Friday night to criticize Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, for his silence following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling granting financial autonomy to local government areas.
Onanuga accused Obi of being quick to share unverified news about the president and the country but failing to acknowledge the administration’s achievements.
He urged Obi to break his silence and recognize the president’s efforts in strengthening local governance.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has been hailed as a significant milestone in decentralizing power and promoting grassroots development.
The president’s administration has been credited with spearheading the initiative, which is expected to have far-reaching implications for local government administration in Nigeria.
Onanuga’s statement highlights the ongoing political discourse and the importance of acknowledging achievements across party lines.
His comments have sparked a lively debate on social media, with some users supporting his call for Obi to recognize the president’s achievements while others have defended Obi’s silence.
He wrote, “Why is Peter Obi silent?
“More than 36 hours after the Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling, granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local councils, Mr. Peter Obi, the defeated Labour Party candidate, has yet to utter a word on the epochal judgment. His silence confirms the belief that he is always quick to tweet unverified news about the Tinubu administration or our country.
“A good opposition statesman must be candid enough to applaud his political opponent when he has done some great deed. The Tinubu administration has succeeded in giving life back to our emasculated councils, using the instrumentality of the law. Even Atiku Abubakar has grudgingly admitted this. But Peter has been silent. He should break his silence and acknowledge that President Tinubu is making a great Nigeria possible.’’
