Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticized Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesperson, for his recent disparaging remarks about former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The comments, made by Onanuga in response to Obasanjo’s speech at the Chinua Achebe leadership forum at Yale University, have sparked a fresh political debate about respect for elders and the conduct of public officials.
In his speech on November 16, Obasanjo described Nigeria’s 2023 general elections as a “travesty,” highlighting concerns about corruption, poor leadership, and a lack of moral values. He argued that these issues had led to insecurity and underdevelopment in the country. During the forum, Obasanjo also criticized both past and present administrations, using terms like “Baba-go-slow” and “Emilokan,” the latter of which became a key slogan during President Bola Tinubu’s election campaign.
Obasanjo’s comments included a call for reforms in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), advocating for a new leadership structure with shorter terms to reduce corruption and restore public trust in the electoral process. His remarks, however, did not sit well with Bayo Onanuga, who responded by accusing the former president of hypocrisy. Onanuga criticized Obasanjo for allegedly overseeing what is considered Nigeria’s most fraudulent election in 2007.
Onanuga also claimed that Obasanjo’s presidency left Nigeria grappling with unresolved challenges, including economic and governance issues. He noted that Obasanjo’s successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, publicly admitted the flaws in the 2007 elections and worked to introduce electoral reforms based on the recommendations of Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel. Onanuga argued that Obasanjo’s era was marked by fleeting economic success due to high oil prices, but that the country was ill-prepared for the subsequent economic downturn after oil prices began to fall in 2014.
According to Onanuga, the economic difficulties faced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations since 2015 were a direct result of poor decisions made during Obasanjo’s tenure and the leadership of subsequent PDP administrations. These comments have sparked a fierce reaction from several political figures, including Bode George, who vehemently disagreed with Onanuga’s approach.
In an interview with Nigeria Info FM, George condemned Onanuga’s disrespectful tone towards Obasanjo, stressing that Yoruba culture strictly forbids insults towards elders. “An old man who could be Bayo Onanuga’s father said something, and you took him on by blasting him right, left, and centre,” George remarked, expressing his dissatisfaction with Onanuga’s conduct. He emphasized that Yoruba traditions demand a higher level of respect, especially in public discourse.
George further recalled a personal encounter where Onanuga had previously shown disrespect towards him. “He did it to me before; he didn’t meet me at Ijebu Ode Grammar School,” George said, alluding to past disagreements. The former PDP national chairman suggested that Onanuga had a habit of attacking those who expressed differing opinions, and that this behavior was both unbecoming and disrespectful.
Even if Onanuga disagreed with Obasanjo’s views, George stressed that Yoruba culture requires a more respectful form of engagement. “Even if you want to react, the Yoruba culture does not allow that insult from him,” George stated, warning Onanuga that his actions would eventually have consequences. “Someday he would pay back, because there would be a day after, and that’s more important,” George added, alluding to the idea that Onanuga would eventually face the repercussions of his disrespectful conduct.
Peace OdekunleNovember 28, 20242 Mins read
