The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has criticized former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s remark labeling former military President Ibrahim Babangida as Tinubu’s tormentor.
Onanuga made his comments in response to Osinbajo’s statement during the public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja last week.
In his role as the book reviewer, Osinbajo recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, resisted the military government’s dissolution of the Senate after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He humorously mentioned that Tinubu, who had been tormented by the military, including Babangida, for trying to reconstitute the Senate, was now attending the event to honor one of his tormentors.
However, Onanuga disagreed with Osinbajo’s statement, saying it was inaccurate. He explained that Babangida was, in fact, an inspiration for Tinubu’s political journey. “When Babangida came into power, he talked about new breed politicians, and Tinubu, like many others, was a technocrat or involved in private business. They all ventured into politics, and that’s what brought Tinubu in. He came to pay homage,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga clarified that Tinubu’s real challenges began under General Sani Abacha’s regime, when Tinubu and some colleagues tried to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.
The presidential adviser also commended Babangida for eventually acknowledging that MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, although he noted that this admission came too late.
