Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has refuted former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s claim that ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida tormented Tinubu during the military era.
Osinbajo made the remark last week while reviewing Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, during its public presentation in Abuja. Reflecting on Tinubu’s political journey, Osinbajo recalled how the then-senator resisted the military’s dissolution of the Senate after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, humorously noting Tinubu’s presence at the event to celebrate a former “tormentor.”
However, speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Onanuga dismissed Osinbajo’s narrative, emphasizing Babangida’s positive influence on Tinubu’s political career.
“I think the former Vice President got it wrong. Babangida was not really a tormentor of President Tinubu. In fact, Tinubu acknowledged at the event that Babangida inspired him to enter politics,” Onanuga stated.
He highlighted Babangida’s push for “new-breed” politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which attracted technocrats and private sector professionals like Tinubu 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.
The presidential aide clarified that Tinubu’s real confrontation with the military came under General Sani Abacha when he and other lawmakers attempted to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.
Onanuga also praised Babangida’s recent admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the annulled 1993 presidential election but noted that the acknowledgment came too late.
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