Onanuga Defends Tinubu’s Leadership, Calls for Second Term Like Buhari
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has asserted that President Tinubu deserves a second term in office, just as former President Muhammadu Buhari served two consecutive terms.
Onanuga made the statement during an interview with Trust Radio on Wednesday, countering recent criticisms from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other northern groups.
Dismissing the allegations of marginalisation raised by the ACF, Onanuga described the accusations as politically motivated and aimed at undermining the presidency. He warned that such narratives were designed to weaken Southern leadership and promote self-serving political ambitions.
“This President is a Nigerian. He deserves the same two terms that Buhari had. Let’s not sacrifice the country for personal ambition,” Onanuga said.
He emphasized that Southerners endured eight years of Buhari’s leadership and urged Northern politicians to show similar political patience and maturity.
Addressing complaints of underrepresentation in federal appointments and developmental projects, Onanuga argued that issues of underdevelopment are national and not unique to any single region.
“You need to get your statistics right. It’s all political mischief designed to undermine the President. There are bad roads across the country, not just in the North,” he said.
Highlighting what he called a balanced approach to governance, Onanuga noted that several top security positions are currently occupied by Northerners, including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Ministers of Defence. He added that this dispels any claims of regional bias.
He also pointed to reported improvements in security in parts of the North, particularly Kaduna State, stating that travel routes such as Kaduna to Abuja have become safer. “Places like Birnin Gwari and Igabi (in Kaduna) are now safer. I drove from Kaduna to Abuja without incident, a journey that was once unthinkable,” he said.
The remarks come amid growing political tensions as stakeholders across the country begin to position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
