Why Tinubu deserves second term like Buhari – Onanuga
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has declared that the President deserves a second term in office just as his predecessor, the late Muhammadu Buhari, had, dismissing recent criticisms from northern groups as politically motivated.
Speaking in an interview with Trust Radio on Wednesday, Onanuga addressed concerns raised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over alleged marginalisation of the North under the Tinubu administration.
He described the forum’s complaints as part of a larger effort to weaken the Southern presidency and promote narrow political ambitions.
“This President is a Nigerian. He deserves the same two terms that Buhari had. Let’s not sacrifice the country for personal ambition,” Onanuga stated.
He urged northern politicians to wait their turn, noting that southerners showed similar patience during Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
Refuting allegations that the North is being shortchanged in federal appointments and infrastructure development, Onanuga argued that the challenges of underdevelopment are national and not limited to any region. He urged critics to rely on verifiable data rather than sweeping generalisations.
“You need to get your statistics right. It’s all political mischief designed to undermine the President. There are bad roads across the country, not just in the North,” he said.
Onanuga also highlighted that key security roles in the Tinubu administration are held by Northerners, including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Defence Ministers, evidence, he said, of a balanced approach to governance.
He further pointed to improvements in security in some parts of the North, particularly Kaduna State.
“Places like Birnin Gwari and Igabi (in Kaduna) are now safer. I drove from Kaduna to Abuja without incident, a journey that was once unthinkable,” he noted.
