Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has accused former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of failing to acknowledge the achievements of political leaders who served before and after him.

Onanuga made the allegation in a commentary titled “Deconstructing Peter Obi (1),” in which he criticised what he described as a different standard being applied to Obi compared with other political figures.

What Onanuga Said About Peter Obi

According to Onanuga, Obi has consistently criticised political figures who occupied office before and after his tenure while failing to publicly acknowledge their achievements.

He argued that Obi had benefited from what he described as a “dangerous trend” in public discourse, where supporters and critics allegedly apply different standards when discussing the former governor.

“There is this dangerous trend in our public discourse whereby there are two sets of standards: one for everyone else and another for H.E. Peter Obi,” Onanuga said.

The presidential spokesman further claimed that Obi had not been known to compliment any of his predecessors or successors.

Key Players In The Dispute

The comments place Bayo Onanuga and Peter Obi at the centre of the latest disagreement over Obi’s political record.

Obi served as governor of Anambra State for eight years, while Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Chris Ngige were among the former governors referenced by Onanuga in his commentary.

Onanuga also mentioned Obi’s media supporters, including Valentine Obienyem, whom he accused of helping promote a favourable narrative about the former governor.

Onanuga’s Claims About Obi’s Time In Anambra

Onanuga alleged that Obi spent his eight years in office “demarketing” Mbadinuju and Ngige, whom he identified as former governors of Anambra State.

He further alleged that Obi continued criticising those who succeeded him after leaving office in 2014.

The presidential spokesman also took aim at what he described as the media packaging surrounding Obi’s political image.

“He is the only next big thing after God. And indeed, to his credit, the media packaging has worked,” Onanuga said.

The remark was presented as part of his broader criticism of the way Obi is portrayed by his supporters and in public discourse.

Different Positions Over Obi’s Anambra Record

The comments come amid a wider disagreement over Obi’s eight-year administration in Anambra State.

One area of dispute concerns the state’s debts, savings and projects during the period Obi served as governor.

The Anambra State Government has challenged some of Obi’s claims concerning the state’s financial position when he left office, while Obi’s camp has disputed the government’s account.

These competing positions form part of the broader disagreement over how Obi’s record in Anambra should be assessed.

What Remains Disputed

Onanuga’s statements about Obi’s political record are his own allegations and characterisations and should not be presented as independently established facts.

Similarly, the supplied account does not provide enough evidence to independently resolve the competing claims over Anambra’s finances, savings and projects.

The available information therefore establishes that there is an ongoing disagreement between the different sides, but it does not independently settle all the claims made about Obi’s tenure.

The Broader Political Dispute

Onanuga’s commentary adds another layer to the continuing debate surrounding Peter Obi’s record as Anambra governor and the way his political legacy is discussed by supporters and critics.

The dispute involves both his assessment of previous and subsequent administrations and competing accounts of his government’s financial and developmental record.

For now, the positions remain contested, with Onanuga advancing his criticisms while Obi’s camp disputes aspects of the government’s account.