Obidients Tackle Onanuga: “If Obi Does Not Watch His Mouth, What Will You Do?”

By Adesina Soyooye

Presidential Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has come under the hammer of the Obidient Movement Group.

The Movement is a political group fiercely loyal to Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, in the 2023 General Election. The Group is accusing Onanuga of threatening Obi.

Trouble began when Obi, in his contribution at a Colloquium organized in Abuja on Monday, March 24, to mark the 60th Birthday Anniversary of a former Governor of Imo State, who was, also, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, said that democracy in Nigeria has collapsed.

In a swift response, Onanuga, in a post on his X page, among other things warned Obi to watch his mouth. The Obidients interpreted that as a threat and asked Onanuga what would happen if Obi failed to watch his mouth.

A press statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communications and Media, Obidient Movement, Nana Kazaure, warned Onanuga against trying to muzzle free speech.

Said the Press Statement in part: “As a Movement, we take serious exception to the uncouth threat by this choleric Presidential Spokesman whose antecedents as an instigator of intolerance and division are well known, recorded and documented.

“Having taken note of Mr Onanuga’s threat, we ask him the question: watch his mouth, or what? What exactly are Onanuga’s plans for H.E. Peter Obi? Or, put more directly, what sinister plans has the Tinubu administration for its critics whose ranks swell daily on account of the Administrations cluelessness, and inability to provide sound and qualitative governance for Nigerians?

“We submit that if the Tinubu Administration had invested a quarter of the energy and resources it expends in hounding and demonizing varying opinions through its intemperate spokespersons and numerous cyber Rottweilers, Nigeria would be a far more decent and conducive place to live in.

“Unfortunately, we are stuck with a Government high on talk but miserably low on action or any iota of progress.

“As millions of Nigerians struggle to come to terms with the hardship, insecurity, and dislocation foisted on the nation by 10 years of APC misrule, the least that is expected of minions like Mr Onanuga is to hide their heads in  deep reflection on their pathetic complicity in bringing a once thriving country to its knees.

“The threat issued to H.E. Peter Obi, whilst completely in character, should not, at all, be discountenaced for as the 2023 elections showed, inciting words from highly placed APC officials, including Mr Onanuga himself, helped to unleash violence, murder and destruction, as well as ethnic hatred from which Nigeria has yet to recover.

“We are, therefore, putting Nigerians and the international community on strong notice that should any harm of any sort befall H.E. Obi, his family, or any of his associates, these culprits who have clearly identified themselves by their vitriolic speech, will be held entirely responsible.”