Popular broadcaster and Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, has slammed the Presidency for focusing on political attacks while Nigerians are facing serious security threats.
Oseni criticised the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, for targeting former President Goodluck Jonathan instead of addressing the growing insecurity in parts of the country, especially Kwara State.
In a post on his Facebook page on Monday, Oseni said, “Mr Onanuga is busy attacking Jonathan while people are running for safety due to bandits’ activities in Kwara South. Our leaders don’t have empathy at all.”
His comment follows a statement released by Onanuga earlier the same day, where the Presidency criticised renewed efforts by some political leaders—especially from the North—who are calling on Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In the statement, Onanuga had attacked Jonathan’s record in office, blaming him for the country’s ongoing economic troubles.
“We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground, and put the country in dire straits. The downturn that President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome actually began under Jonathan,” Onanuga wrote.
However, Oseni believes such political distractions are misplaced, especially when lives are at risk in several parts of the country due to increasing insecurity.
Oseni’s comments come as reports emerge from Kwara South, where bandits have been attacking communities, forcing residents to flee their homes. Though not widely reported in mainstream media, local sources say the security situation in parts of Kwara has worsened, with incidents of kidnapping, robbery, and community displacement becoming more frequent.
Many Nigerians, especially on social media, have expressed frustration that leaders seem more focused on political battles than solving the problems affecting ordinary citizens.
The Presidency’s strong words against Jonathan come amid growing talks about a possible political alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. Jonathan, who was Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has been mentioned in political circles recently, especially within the opposition, as a possible contender.
But Onanuga dismissed the idea, saying the same people promoting Jonathan now had once abandoned him in 2015. He argued that Jonathan’s administration was responsible for laying the foundation of Nigeria’s economic decline.
Still, critics like Oseni argue that now is not the time for political distractions. With inflation, fuel hikes, and worsening insecurity, they say the focus should be on solving problems rather than fighting old political battles.
The situation in Kwara and other parts of Nigeria continues to highlight the need for urgent government action to protect lives and property.
