Bayo Onanuga is the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. He has debunked former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s claim. Osinbajo claimed that Ibrahim Babangida tormented Tinubu during the military era. Onanuga insisted that Babangida was actually a major influence on Tinubu’s political journey.
“I think the former Vice President got it wrong. Babangida was not really a tormentor of President Tinubu. Don’t forget that in his own speech at the event, Tinubu acknowledged that Babangida inspired him to go into politics,” Onanuga said.
According to Onanuga, Babangida’s call for new-breed politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s attracted Tinubu and other professionals into politics. “The military president had talked about bringing in fresh faces, and many professionals, including Tinubu, heeded that call. So, he went there (the book launch) to pay homage,” Onanuga added.
Onanuga clarified that Tinubu’s real challenges with the military began under General Sani Abacha, not Babangida. He also commended Babangida’s recent admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, but noted that the acknowledgment came too late.