The Presidency has raised concerns over the political strategies employed by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, accusing him of introducing “two dangerous things” into the fabric of Nigerian politics. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, pinpointed the promotion of ethnic and religious sentiments as major issues.
During an interview on the program Mic On with Seun Okinbaloye, Onanuga detailed the administration’s stance on the matter. He expressed worry about the apparent shift in electoral discourse, stating, “For the first time in a very long while in our country, we had a candidate who was inflaming ethnic passion. That was the way the election went at that time. He was inflaming ethnic and religious passions, bringing two dangerous things to our politics: ethnicity and religion.”
Despite the criticisms directed at Obi, the Tinubu administration has emphasized its commitment to governance and the resolution of the nation’s pressing issues, including security, infrastructure development, and economic improvement. The administration vows to remain focused and not be sidetracked by political controversies.
This development highlights the ongoing challenges of ethnic and religious sentiments in Nigerian politics and the need for a unified approach towards national development.
