The Presidency has rejected expectations that Peter Obi can transform Nigeria through his presidential bid, saying governance is not achieved through magic.
Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, criticised Obi’s record as Anambra governor and said supporters expect miracles from him. “How?” Onanuga asked, before stressing: “Governance is not by magic.” He called Obi “simply overhyped and overrated,” “clueless” and a “spectacular failure.” He also said, “He changes his positions like a chameleon,” and that “his worldview is dictated by his mob on social media.”
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s aide, Otega Ogra, rejected Atiku Abubakar’s plan to subsidise crude for local refineries, saying the model failed under Olusegun Obasanjo. “Excuse me, sir. Nigeria already tried your production-subsidy-to-local-refineries idea while you were Vice President. We know the shambolic results of that production subsidy. You know it too.”
Atiku’s aide, Eta Uso, said the Presidency focused on Atiku instead of his policy. “We gave you a policy argument. Instead of engaging it intelligently, you reached for ‘veteran presidential candidate’ and recycled a claim your colleague had already pushed,” Uso said. He added that repeated rebuttals only keep Atiku’s proposals in public focus.
