The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed allegations made by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the Federal Government is targeting him, describing the claims as false, misleading and unsupported by evidence.
Obi had recently alleged that his life was under threat and accused the Federal Government of deliberately frustrating his activities. He also claimed that individuals were being discouraged from inviting him to public events and suggested that he might not be alive by the time Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are held.
Reacting to the allegations, Onanuga rejected the assertions in a statement, insisting that the claims were part of what he described as a pattern of misinformation propagated by the former Anambra State governor.
According to Onanuga, Obi’s account of an incident involving his vehicle at an airport did not support his allegation that he was being persecuted by the government. He argued that, by Obi’s own narration, the incident appeared to have resulted from a breach of parking regulations rather than any deliberate action by government authorities.
The presidential spokesman maintained that it was wrong to attribute every personal inconvenience to the Federal Government, accusing Obi of repeatedly making exaggerated and unsubstantiated allegations against the Tinubu administration.
Onanuga further described Obi as a “pathological and serial liar,” alleging that the former presidential candidate habitually seeks to draw the government into matters that have no connection with official actions. According to him, Obi has consistently relied on what he termed exaggeration and propaganda to sustain public attention.
The presidential aide also dismissed Obi’s assertion that he fears for his safety ahead of the 2027 elections, as well as his claim that people were allegedly being pressured not to invite him to social functions.
He described both allegations as fabricated narratives designed to create public sympathy and divert attention from what he called Obi’s declining credibility and the internal challenges facing his political platform and political associates.
According to Onanuga, the allegations lacked factual basis and should not be taken as evidence of any campaign of intimidation by the Federal Government.
Addressing another aspect of Obi’s comments, the presidential spokesman referred to the former governor’s interest in Fidelity Bank, stating that there was no basis for suggestions that the institution was being targeted by the government.
Onanuga said the bank continues to operate successfully under the prevailing economic environment and attributed its stability to the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
He argued that rather than being subjected to persecution, Obi appeared to be dealing with the consequences of what he described as his repeated dissemination of unfounded claims.
The presidential spokesman insisted that the Federal Government has no interest in victimising Obi or any opposition figure, stressing that the administration remains focused on implementing its economic and governance agenda.
According to him, President Tinubu’s government is concentrating on consolidating reforms aimed at strengthening the economy and improving the welfare of Nigerians, leaving little room for distractions arising from political rhetoric.
Onanuga maintained that the administration would continue to prioritise governance over political exchanges, noting that it had neither the time nor the inclination to engage in what he characterised as Obi’s “self-serving narratives.”
He further contended that Obi’s repeated public statements have undermined his own political standing, arguing that many of his allegations are speculative, unverifiable and unsupported by credible evidence.
The exchange marks the latest episode in the ongoing war of words between the Presidency and the former Labour Party presidential candidate, whose criticisms of the Federal Government have frequently drawn responses from senior officials of the Tinubu administration.
Political observers note that the renewed verbal exchanges come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures becoming increasingly vocal on issues relating to governance, economic reforms and democratic accountability.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi had not issued any further response to Onanuga’s latest remarks.
