EMINENT statesman and frontline industrialist, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to restrain his aide, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, from making intemperate public statement that could destroy Nigeria.
Obidigbo regretted that the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Strategy has been making inciting remarks and provocative hate speeches that could not only damage Nigeria’s feeble national cohesion, but also set the nation on a needless conflagration.
The industrialist condemned Onanuga’s recent statement claiming that the 2023 Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters called the Obidients should be blamed for the planned national protest against bad governance.
In a statement released to journalists in Enugu, Sunday, he lamented that despite Onanuga’s experience in media practice and knowledge of Nigeria’s troubled political history, the presidential aide continues that spew forth hate and divisive utterances.
“Many people still remember Onanuga’s role during the military era, when the Nigeria press adopted the guerilla tactics to call attention to the oppressive regimes in the country. But, having witnessed and currently benefitting from the nation’s democracy, this veteran journalist has thrown caution to the wind.
“Onanuga has formed the habit of talking down on Nigerians as if he is at the head of a military junta. When he is not withdrawing ill-conceived communication, he churns out statements dripping with deep-seated bile and hateful innuendos sentences.
“His latest attempt to link the former Governor of Anambra State with the youth-propelled national protest comes as one of the unthinking statements unbefitting a presidential aide. Onanuga should be reminded that when the dark clouds he is invoking brings down rain, nobody’s roof would be safe,” Obidigbo stated.
He regretted that at a time when countless multinational business organisations are leaving the country due to unstable economic indices, the likes of Onanuga should find time to gloat about the last presidential election.
Obidigbo stated: “Onanuga and indeed all those in public offices should reckon that Nigeria is at a tricky cross roads and show some level of empathy to Nigerian masses who are going through excruciating hardship compounded by insecurity, rising food prices and cost of living challenges.
“In his heart of hearts Bayo Onanuga knows that Mr. Peter Obi has been exemplary in conduct and character and has remained focused on the issues of economic development, especially mitigating mass poverty and giving a helping hand to the poorest of the poor.
“During the electioneering, Mr. Peter was elegant in his public communication and campaign messaging. He resisted provocations and attempts to be drawn to divisive rhetoric that bedeviled Nigeria partisan politics.
“But, Onanuga’s attempt to single out Igbo for hate by his dangerous innuendo is not lost on well meaning Nigerians. This is not the first time the veteran journalist should descend so low to promote bigotry and ethnic baiting against the Igbo. And it is high time President Tinubu calls him to order, unless Igbo bashing is at the core of the presidential communication.”
Obidigbo said the myriad of socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria trumps the continuing efforts to isolate Igbo through nepotism and ethnic bashing, adding that the day equity and justice becomes the hallmark of national reconciliation, Nigeria will begin the process of national healing.
“Denying Igbo of political offices could be excused, but trying to despoil their reputation and dependence on self help could end up as the last straw that breaks the Carmel’s back,” he cautioned.
