Former deputy national chairman (south) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bode George has warned that presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga will face consequences for his recent remarks about former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
George’s statement comes after Onanuga publicly criticised Obasanjo following his speech at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University on November 16. During the event, Obasanjo described the situation in Nigeria as chaotic under the “Baba-go-slow” and “Emilokan” reigns.
“Baba-go-slow” is a colloquial term used to refer to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration by those who saw him as being slow to act.
“Emilokan”, however, is a term popularised during President Bola Tinubu’s election campaign, when he said it was his turn to lead the country.
In a rebuttal, Onanuga accused Obasanjo of being unfit to criticise Tinubu’s leadership, stating that the former president had no moral authority to offer advice on governance in Nigeria.
“The beneficiary of the sham election, Umaru Yar’Adua, admitted that the election was seriously flawed and, as Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel recommended, worked towards electoral reforms,” Onanuga said.
“It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The only positive of the Obasanjo era was fiscal and monetary policy management buoyed by a consistent rise in crude oil prices throughout his eight-year tenure.
“This rise in crude oil prices started in 2000 and peaked in 2013 when it reached over 100 dollars per barrel before a decline in 2014, which set the oil-dependent economy downward.
“The current economic crisis the All Progressives Congress administrations have been battling since 2015 is the product of the poor choices in economic management made by Obasanjo and the two successors from his party.”
George reacted to the exchange in an interview on Nigeria Info FM.
He expressed his disapproval of Onanuga’s comments, describing them as disrespectful and an affront to a former head of state. He suggested that Onanuga’s remarks were reckless and warned that there would be consequences for his actions.
“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 said.
“That is his style because he did it to me before; he didn’t meet me at Ijebu Ode Grammar School.
“You can see how small he is when comparing himself to us; people give their opinion, and you insult them.
“Even if you want to react, the Yoruba culture does not allow that insult from him.
“Someday he would pay back, because there would be a day after, and that’s more important.
“He should be vigilant as he walks because it’s possible for him.”
