ABUJA — Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has drawn intense backlash from social media commentators following a deleted post targeting former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The controversy erupted after Onanuga shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) accusing Obi of making false claims regarding the religious background of his former cabinet commissioners during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.
The Controversial Post & Social Media Backlash
In the deleted post, Onanuga had shared a clip from a televised interview featuring Peter Obi alongside the caption:
“Obi caught red handed lying about the religion of his commissioners. The man from Agulu wants to pander to northern Muslims and lie his way to office. Shameless liar.”
However, after online users pointed out factual inaccuracies regarding the appointments made during Obi’s governorship, Onanuga subsequently pulled down the post.
The action prompted swift reactions from political commentators, including X user A.M TEMIDAYO (@AnewNaija), who accused the presidential aide of reckless messaging:
“Bayo Onanuga set out to make Obi look like a liar. Instead, he made a fool of himself. He posted a reckless accusation, got fact-checked by reality, and deleted it in shame. He attacks first, thinks later, and deletes when caught.”
Key Points of Debate
INCIDENT: Bayo Onanuga deletes X post regarding Peter Obi's past cabinet appointments
SUBJECT MATTER: Allegations surrounding religious demographics of Anambra cabinet members
CRITICISM: Opposing commentators accuse aide of impulsive posting without verification
OFFICIAL STATUS: No official follow-up statement issued by the Presidency at press time
The episode highlights the ongoing friction between media handlers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and supporters of opposition figures on social media platforms, where past administrative records frequently become flashpoints for public debate.
