Onanuga slams Obi as overhyped, clueless

Abdullateef Fowewe

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga has launched an attack on NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, branding him “overhyped and overrated” and accusing him of lacking the “governance pedigree” required for higher office.

The remarks come after a video by commentator @Bond_not_james went viral, outlining what he said were the only two ways petrol prices could fall in Nigeria, while featuring clips of Obi speaking on subsidy corruption amid public anger over high fuel costs.

The post has intensified online debate over economic management and leadership credentials ahead of the next election cycle.

Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, did not hold back in a social media post directly targeting Obi’s record and style.

“Peter Obi is simply overhyped and overrated. The guy is clueless. As Anambra governor, he was a spectacular failure. Now gunning for a higher office, his supporters think he can perform a miracle. How? Governance is not by magic,” Onanuga wrote.

He added, “A wannabe national leader must have a governance pedigree, which Peter lacks. He changes his positions like a chameleon. And his worldview is dictated by his mob on social media.”

The exchange underscores deepening partisan friction between supporters of Tinubu’s APC administration and Obi’s backers, with both sides trading barbs over economic performance, past governance records and perceived policy flip‑flops.

While Obi’s camp has long framed him as a frugal, business‑savvy alternative, critics within APC circles have increasingly questioned his suitability for national leadership, citing his tenure in Anambra and shifting policy stances.