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By Oscar Okhifo
A presidential aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has lashed out at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a display of political inconsistency and “wandering” ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onanuga made the remarks on Wednesday, accusing Obi of abandoning the Labour Party after using it to pursue what he called an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2023.
He described the former Anambra State governor as a “wandering politician,” highlighting his history of moving across parties, including APGA, PDP, Labour Party, and now ADC.
According to the presidential aide, Obi remains bitter over his third-place finish in the 2023 election, despite his claims of widespread support.
Onanuga argued that independent analyses showed Obi lacked the nationwide backing needed to win.
He also took a swipe at Obi over his remarks during the ADC event, where the former governor referenced global development models and academic perspectives to justify his political vision for Nigeria.
Onanuga argued that governance solutions must be locally driven, insisting that policies successful in other countries may not necessarily work in Nigeria’s unique context.
“At his event, Obi’s bitterness was evident. What concerned me most were his references to books, professors, and other nations to buttress his belief that he has learnt from the masters and that Nigeria should be entrusted to him because he claims to know the secrets of national development. This posturing should be taken with a pinch of salt, coming from a politician who was an abysmal failure in a small state like Anambra, which he governed for eight years,” he said.
He further added that Obi lacked the leadership pedigree required to govern a complex country like Nigeria, describing him as a politician whose experience did not extend beyond business success.
“Nations are not identical, and no leader can develop a country by copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Homegrown solutions are essential,” Onanuga stated.
The presidential aide contrasted Obi’s approach with the policies of President Bola Tinubu, whom he praised for pursuing what he described as bold and original reforms since assuming office in May 2023.
Onanuga pointed to key infrastructure projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, as proof of the Tinubu administration’s long-term development plans.
He also highlighted government reforms such as the removal of petrol subsidies, economic restructuring, gas development investments, stabilisation of the foreign exchange market, and the rollout of tax reforms.
Onanuga further argued that Obi’s defection to the ADC was unlikely to shift the political landscape ahead of 2027, predicting he would play a secondary role in the opposition coalition.