Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has launched a fresh attack on Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing the former Anambra State governor as “clueless,” “overhyped,” “overrated” and a “spectacular failure.”
Onanuga made the remarks in a post on his X account while reacting to a video in which Obi discussed the Federal Government’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and questioned how the proceeds from the policy have been managed.
The presidential aide used Obi’s comments to challenge the former governor’s credentials ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that his record in Anambra State did not support the level of political acclaim he has received since becoming a major opposition figure.
Onanuga’s comments are part of an increasingly sharp political exchange between supporters of Tinubu’s administration and Obi, who has emerged as one of the leading opposition figures ahead of the 2027 contest.
Subsidy Debate Takes Centre Stage
The removal of the petrol subsidy remains one of the defining economic decisions of the Tinubu administration.
The policy, announced shortly after Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, triggered a dramatic change in petrol pricing and contributed to an immediate rise in transportation and living costs.
The government has consistently defended the decision as necessary to eliminate what it described as an unsustainable fiscal burden and redirect resources toward development.
Critics, including Obi, have questioned the implementation of the policy and whether Nigerians have received sufficient benefits from the savings generated by subsidy removal.
That disagreement has become an important political fault line ahead of 2027.
Obi has repeatedly argued that government must demonstrate clearly how public resources are being deployed and has called for greater transparency and accountability.
Onanuga, meanwhile, has consistently defended Tinubu’s reforms and criticised opposition politicians who question the administration’s economic decisions.
Onanuga Questions Obi’s Record
In his latest intervention, Onanuga went beyond the subsidy debate to question Obi’s broader record as governor of Anambra.
He argued that Obi’s reputation had been inflated by supporters and sections of the public, describing him in exceptionally critical terms.
Similar attacks have previously been made by Onanuga, who has repeatedly challenged Obi’s suitability for the presidency. Current reporting on the latest remarks quotes the presidential aide as saying Obi is “overhyped” and lacks the record needed to lead Nigeria.
The comments are particularly significant because Obi’s political profile has expanded substantially since the 2023 presidential election.
He finished third in that election but secured an unexpectedly strong performance in several parts of the country, particularly in the South-East and among younger voters.
His supporters subsequently turned the “Obidient” movement into one of the most recognisable political movements in contemporary Nigeria.
2027 Battle Intensifies
Obi is now seeking another opportunity at the presidency under the NDC platform, while Tinubu and the APC are working to consolidate their support ahead of the 2027 election.
The political contest is increasingly being fought not only through party structures but also through competing narratives about the economic record of the current administration and the governance credentials of opposition candidates.
For Tinubu’s camp, the argument is that the president inherited a severely weakened economy and took politically difficult decisions to address structural problems.
For Obi and his supporters, the argument is that the reforms have imposed significant hardship on Nigerians without delivering sufficient relief in return.
The subsidy question therefore goes beyond economics: it has become part of the larger political debate over which candidate Nigerians should trust with the country’s future.
Onanuga’s latest comments add another forceful contribution to that debate.
His description of Obi as “clueless,” “overhyped,” “overrated” and a “spectacular failure” represents his political assessment of the opposition candidate rather than an independently established finding.
Obi and his supporters have continued to defend his record and reject criticisms of his capacity to govern.
With the 2027 election drawing closer, such exchanges are expected to intensify as the major political camps seek to define their opponents before voters.