The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has defended his principal’s right to seek a second term in office, stating that President Tinubu deserves the same opportunity afforded his predecessor, the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during an interview on Trust Radio on Wednesday, Onanuga addressed concerns raised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over perceived marginalisation of Northern Nigeria, describing the claims as politically motivated and aimed at undermining the administration because the President hails from the South.
“This President is a Nigerian. He deserves the same two terms that Buhari had. Let’s not sacrifice the country for personal ambition,” Onanuga said, urging Northern politicians to exercise patience just as the South did during Buhari’s eight years in office.
He dismissed allegations of lopsided appointments and infrastructural neglect in the North, calling such criticisms unfounded and rooted in “political mischief.”
“You need to get your statistics right,” he said. “It’s all political mischief designed to undermine the President. There are bad roads across the country, not just in the North.”
Addressing accusations of Southern dominance in federal appointments, Onanuga cited several top security roles currently held by Northerners as evidence of balanced representation.
“The National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the two Defence Ministers are all Northerners,” he said.
The presidential aide also referenced recent improvements in security, particularly in Kaduna State, as part of the administration’s success in tackling insecurity.
“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 stated.
Onanuga maintained that development challenges exist nationwide and should not be framed as a regional issue. He called for unity and a focus on national progress rather than divisive rhetoric.
His comments come amid growing political discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some Northern groups accusing the current administration of favouring the South in key decisions.
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