The Presidency has firmly dismissed any claims suggesting President Bola Tinubu is responsible for recent disruptions faced by opposition parties in the country.

The Presidency emphasised that the allegations are unfounded and seem to be driven by political motives.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, shared these thoughts during an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time on Thursday night.

He reassured the public that there is no truth to reports claiming the President is interfering with opposition coalition meetings or activities, including the new alliance involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and others under the African Democratic Congress.

“There is this tendency in Nigeria to scapegoat Tinubu for everything. People face challenges and the first thing they say is, ‘It’s Tinubu.’ But it’s not true. He wasn’t even in the country when some of these events happened,” Onanuga said.

Opposition leaders expressed frustration, sharing that venues for their political events were unexpectedly cancelled. As a result, members of the ADC coalition had to walk long distances to reach the Shehu Musa Yaradua Centre in Abuja, all to avoid attracting security attention and the risk of a blockade.

Onanuga, however, responded by dismissing these claims, assuring that the current administration is not suppressing dissent or silencing opposition voices.

“This government allows freedom of speech. I’ve heard people say this government is against freedom of speech. That’s baloney. This government allows freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and freedom of the press. If a hotel cancels an event booking, does that mean Tinubu owns the hotel?” he asked.

Regarding the emerging coalition between Atiku and Obi, Onanuga contended that political mergers alone do not ensure electoral victory.

“Atiku has been in the presidential race more than anyone – more than Tinubu, more than Obi. Each time, he fails at the gate. Buhari failed several times too, but he eventually succeeded—with Tinubu’s help,” he said.

He added that Atiku’s political strategy in 2023, which relied heavily on northern sentiments, was rejected by voters in the South. “If he tries that again, how will he get southern support? Even with Obi as a running mate, it doesn’t guarantee that Obi’s 2023 supporters will follow him again,” he said.

Speaking further, Onanuga emphasised that Tinubu continues to have support in the North, pointing to key appointments and policies as evidence of regional goodwill.

“This president is doing a lot for the North. He has appointed people from the North-West and North-East to top positions. In politics, a good turn deserves another. The noise does not match the reality. People are benefiting,” he said.

He expressed the belief that when the moment was right, the President would be able to tap into the goodwill built up by his administration’s efforts nationwide.

ASA