Nigerians criticize Bayo Onanuga over ‘bitter Obi” statement, calls him ‘childish elder’

Nigerians have criticized Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, for describing Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, as a “bitter” person.

Onanuga remarked while sharing a statement on his X page made by Nwachukwu Chigozie that berated Obi.

Chigozie had berated the former governor of Anambra State for applauding a mayor in Canada who praised Lagos State and Nigeria in general.

Describing Obi as a “chief mourner,” Chigozie wrote, “Chief mourner woke up, wore his usual mourning clothes, and went to Canada to practice his market-to-market demarketing of Nigeria.

“While at it, the mayor of the town got hold of the mic and started singing praises of Nigeria, Lagos in particular.

“The bitter loser didn’t know when he joined his hurriedly assembled crowd to start clapping for the mayor.”

Sharing the statement on his verified X handle, Onanuga wrote “bitter Obi” as a caption. A statement that has stirred the irk of Nigerians.

Reacting to the statement, Nigerian singer Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly called Charly Boy, in a statement on X on Monday, called on the presidential aide to refrain from calling Obi “disgusting” names.

Describing the name-calling as an affront “on well-meaning Nigerians,” Charly Boy urged the presidential aide to “focus on the fall of the naira, insecurity, hunger, poverty, and corruption ravaging the incompetent government of Tinubu.”

His statement reads, “We are saddened and disappointed at Mr. Bayo Onanuga for addressing HE Peter Obi as “Bitter Obi.” Such disgusting name-calling on an active and dedicated citizen like HE Peter Obi, who has never sponsored any form of violence against the state or the government, is uncalled for.

“As loyal supporters of HE Peter Obi, any form of attack on HE Peter Obi is an absolute attack on well-meaning Nigerians. Mr. Bayo must refrain from attacking Obi, as such will not give Nigerians the needed good governance.

“Mr. Bayo must focus on the fall of the naira, insecurity, hunger, poverty, and corruption ravaging the incompetent government of Tinubu.”

An X user simply identified as Ugowil, described Onanuga as an “old crook” who “is a tribal bigot whose politics is based on ethnicity, religion, and criminality.”

He added that “he played a devilish role in the killings of some Igbos in Lagos during the 2023 election, and he is at it again.”

Onile OKoro, in his reaction, notes that “Bayo Onanuga is a media lap dog. So unfortunate for a man with his kind of media experience.”

Lucas Anuforo called the presidential aide and other Tinubu aides and ministers “men without shame and integrity.”

He adds that “instead of them finding solutions to the moribund state of the country’s economy, they sit on the sofa and gossip their lives out. Bayo Onunuga keeps calling Peter Obi’s name and doesn’t try to find a solution to the debilitating economy.

“They are all opportunists. I know many would like to hug transformer after reading this, especially some gullible youths and the follow-followers.”

“At 66, Onanuga is an elder—a very childish elder. Villifying PO, who is much younger than him, is not just out of spite for a political opponent but a manifestation of his bitterness and envy against a superior being,” Obiora Ojukwu argues.

Osigwelem Okuda Ibubebe, mentioned that “it is a pity that a media guru like Bayo Onanuga has sold his integrity to the goat and turned himself into a political tool.

“I still wonder how he has managed to be comfortable with that. Bayo, you have lied three times that I know since this year as a propaganda tool. Shame.”