A fresh war of words has broken out between the Presidency and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, after the Presidency described the former Anambra State governor as “clueless.”
The latest exchange followed comments made by Obi during an interview in which he recalled how former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua responded to him during emergencies while he served as governor of Anambra State.
Reacting to the interview, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Obi’s remarks and questioned his leadership record.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, Onanuga wrote: “Obi was clueless then and is clueless now.”
The presidential aide, however, did not provide further details to support his statement.
The remark has added to the growing political rivalry between the Presidency and Obi, who has remained one of the leading opposition figures since the 2023 general election.
During the interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Obi spoke about his experience as governor and how he handled emergency situations.
He recalled an incident involving severe erosion in Umuchiyiani community in Ekulobia, Anambra State, saying he personally visited the affected area in the early hours of the morning before contacting then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Obi, he received a phone call around 2 a.m. informing him that erosion had caused a building to collapse.
He said he immediately left Awka, the Anambra State capital, and drove to the community to assess the situation.
“Forget security, I had erosion in a place called Umuchiyiani in Ekulobia and by 2am my phone rang. They said there was erosion and a house collapsed into it.
“I left my place in Awka, drove to that site at 2am and called Obasanjo from there. I said I’m in a village and erosion had just taken place there, a building had fallen and he answered me at 2am,” Obi said.
The former governor also recalled another security challenge during his administration, saying he contacted the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after a major robbery incident.
According to him, Yar’Adua remained actively involved until the situation was brought under control.
“When I had one of the most critical robberies, I called President Yar’Adua and he was calling me daily until that situation was over,” Obi added.
Obi made the comments while discussing leadership, emergency response and the importance of accessibility by leaders during periods of crisis.
His remarks appeared to highlight what he described as the willingness of former presidents to respond promptly to urgent situations affecting state governments.
However, the comments drew a sharp response from the Presidency through Onanuga.
The exchange is the latest in a series of public disagreements involving the Presidency and Obi.
Since the 2023 presidential election, both sides have frequently disagreed over issues relating to governance, the economy, security and the performance of the Tinubu administration.
Obi has consistently criticised the Federal Government’s handling of economic reforms, insecurity and the rising cost of living.
He has repeatedly argued that Nigeria needs disciplined leadership, prudent management of public resources and policies that directly improve the lives of citizens.
The Presidency, on the other hand, has defended President Tinubu’s economic and political reforms, insisting that many of the government’s decisions are necessary to stabilise the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
Government officials have maintained that some of the reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and changes in the foreign exchange market, were difficult but necessary measures inherited from longstanding economic challenges.
Onanuga has often been one of the administration’s strongest public voices, regularly responding to criticism from opposition politicians and defending government policies through official statements and social media posts.
Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, remains a prominent opposition figure and continues to comment on national issues through interviews, public speeches and social media.
His supporters frequently praise his record in Anambra, especially in areas such as financial management, education and infrastructure, while critics question aspects of his administration and his political positions.
The latest exchange between Onanuga and Obi is expected to fuel further political debate as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of future elections.
As of Thursday, Obi had not publicly responded to Onanuga’s remark describing him as “clueless.”
The Presidency also did not issue any further statement beyond the post made by the President’s spokesman.