Politics
Bayo Onanuga Disputes Osinbajo’s Claim of Babangida as Tinubu’s Tormentor
- He explained that Babangida’s call for new-breed politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s attracted several technocrats and private sector professionals, including Tinubu, into politics.
- Onanuga pointed out that Tinubu, in his own speech at the event, had acknowledged Babangida as an inspiration for his entry into politics.
- He emphasized that without Babangida, people like Tinubu would not have pursued political careers.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has refuted former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s assertion that former military President Ibrahim Babangida was among those who tormented Tinubu during the military era, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking at the public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography, Osinbajo had noted the irony of Tinubu, once “tormented” by the military, attending the event to celebrate one of his former adversaries.
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However, Onanuga disputed this claim, stating that Osinbajo was mistaken.
Onanuga pointed out that Tinubu, in his own speech at the event, had acknowledged Babangida as an inspiration for his entry into politics.
He emphasized that without Babangida, people like Tinubu would not have pursued political careers.
However, speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Onanuga countered the claim, insisting that Babangida was, in fact, a major influence on Tinubu’s political journey.
“I think the former Vice President got it wrong. Babangida was not really a tormentor of President Tinubu. Don’t forget that in his own speech at the event, Tinubu acknowledged that Babangida inspired him to go into politics,” Onanuga said.
He explained that Babangida’s call for new-breed politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s attracted several technocrats and private sector professionals, including Tinubu, into politics.
“The military president had talked about bringing in fresh faces, and many professionals, including Tinubu, heeded that call. So, he went there (the book launch) to pay homage,” Onanuga added.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has clarified that Bola Tinubu’s main conflicts with the military began under General Sani Abacha’s rule, when Tinubu, alongside other lawmakers, attempted to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.
Onanuga also responded to former military President Ibrahim Babangida’s recent admission that Chief MKO Abiola had indeed won the 1993 presidential election.
While commending Babangida’s acknowledgment, Onanuga noted that such a revelation has come too late.
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