The Tinubu administration has identified supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last election, as the masterminds behind planned nationwide protests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made these allegations in a detailed post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956. He claimed that the same individuals who hijacked the 2020 ENDSARS protests are now planning demonstrations with hashtags like ‘EndBadGovernance’ and ‘Tinubu Must Go.’ Onanuga labeled these organizers as “anarchists” and “bad losers” who are unwilling to wait for the 2027 elections, accusing them of seeking to destabilize Nigeria through a “civilian coup.” He stated that if the protests turn violent, Peter Obi should be held responsible.
According to the Presidency, key figures, including a faceless internet radio station owner and a Labour Party leader, are involved in the protest plans. Onanuga warned that the protesters’ calls for “revolution” and the removal of an elected government amount to high treason, urging security agencies to take action against those threatening the country’s stability.
The post, titled “REVEALED: Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria: Obi should be held responsible for anarchy,” drew parallels with the 2020 ENDSARS protests, which initially started as a legitimate demonstration against police brutality but were allegedly hijacked by other elements, resulting in significant destruction in Lagos State. Onanuga accused IPOB members and supporters of Peter Obi of spreading hashtags like ‘EndBadGovernance,’ ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ and ‘Revolution2024,’ suggesting they are pushing for a civilian coup against President Tinubu. He emphasized that their actions are calls for treason, equating them to a coup d’état.
Onanuga claimed to have been tracking one of the protest planners, an anonymous individual running an internet radio station, PTM100.88 Abuja. This person, who joined X in August 2022 and has 520 followers, is accused of inciting followers to join the planned protest and frequently sharing content related to Peter Obi. Onanuga also highlighted a video of a teenager in the North printing T-shirts with the message “EndBadGovernance in Nigeria 2024” and pointed to a retweeted post by Babatunde Gbadamosi urging people to identify APC members and supporters.
The presidential spokesman stressed that while every country faces economic challenges, civilized nations address leadership concerns through elections rather than violent protests. He highlighted the government’s efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis, such as increasing the minimum wage, providing student loans, and distributing food as palliatives. He also noted improvements in the economy, including reduced inflation, increased revenue generation, and a booming stock market.
The Presidency urged citizens to consider these efforts before joining protests and warned that those advocating for demonstrations should wait until the 2027 elections to enact leadership change. Onanuga called on security agents to begin questioning those behind these destabilization efforts, emphasizing that no country is immune from economic challenges and that civilized and democratic societies resolve leadership changes through elections, not unrest.