Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the primary socio-cultural group that represents the Igbos, has raised serious concerns about the remarks and behaviors of Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
The organization has accused Onanuga of possessing a strong animosity towards the Igbo community. Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, issued a statement in which the organization condemned Bayo Onanuga for making provocative comments regarding the upcoming nationwide protests.
Onanuga alleged that the protests were orchestrated by supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and implied that the Igbo community was responsible for these demonstrations.
The organization urged the government to focus on creating policies and programs that address the challenges faced by all citizens, rather than making threats and divisive statements.
Dr. Ogbonnia pointed out that Onanuga has a history of making offensive comments about the Igbo people, including a statement on March 19, 2023, where Onanuga warned the Igbo to stay away from participating in politics in Lagos.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo made it clear that the current hardships affecting the entire nation are a result of long-standing systemic issues and marginalization. They emphasized the need for inclusive and thoughtful solutions to address these challenges.
Part of the statement read: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo views Onanuga’s bizarre dispositions towards anything Igbo as unthoughtful, loathsome, cantankerous, uncouth, repugnant, inflammable, repugnant and full of deep-seated hate.
“It may be necessary to inform Onanuga that Nigerians of all persuasions, North, South, East and West are in pains of diverse forms: excruciating hardships, poverty, naira downward spiral, incessant kidnappings, banditry, farmers-herdsmen conflict, most terrifying insecurity, joblessness, rising food prices and cost of living challenges. And that the prevailing hardship in Nigeria is blind to ethnicity.
“It is necessary to inform Onanuga that this is a time for the Presidency to initiate policies, programmes, activities, and a body language that will appeal to or assuage the downtrodden, dispossessed, oppressed, the deprived, including Obidients.”
