Bode George Blasts Bayo Onanuga for Attack on Obasanjo; Says: You’ll Pay for it

Stalwart of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has berated the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, for his recent blistering attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo,  saying the behaviour was alien to Yoruba culture and could have serious repercussions.

The fuel that stoked the fire?

Obasanjo had, while speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in the United States, on November 16, 2024, declared that the 2023 general election was a “travesty”.

The former President, nicknamed Ebira Owu for his fearlessness, had, at the event, ascribed Nigeria’s failing status to “widespread corruption, poor leadership, and immorality,” all of which have conspired to foist the prevailing state of insecurity and underdevelopment on the country.

Obasanjo described the situation in Nigeria as chaotic under what he termed “Baba-go-slow” and “Emi lokan” rule.

“Emi lokan” is a  phrase coined by the then candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his election campaign. Transliterated, it means: it is my turn.

Obasanjo did not spare the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He called for the appointment of new and credible leaders with short tenures to prevent corruption and re-establish trust in the institution.

However, Onanuga picked the gauntlet and fired salvos at the former President who, he insisted, organised the worst election in Nigeria’s electoral history, and left many unresolved issues for his successors to tackle.

Onanuga lambasted Obasanjo for always taking to the media to “bestow his unsolicited wisdom on leadership and governance in Nigeria” when he, as former President, had unfettered access to the nation’s tower of power, the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

The presidential spokesperson also frowned at Obasanjo’s propensity to always blame those who served after him for the myriad of problems confronting the country, even when he, Obasanjo, had his many flaws.

Hear Onanuga: “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.

“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.”

But in an interview on Nigeria Info FM, Chief Bode George, a formal National Vice Chairman(South West) of the PDP, condemned Onanuga for insulting an elder, warning that Yoruba culture drowns at such behaviour.

Obasanjo, the PDP chieftain noted, was old enough to be his father, therefore, should have been better guided in his attack.

“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 declared.

“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.”