The pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, over his comment linking the proposed “hunger protest” to the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi.
The group urged Onanuga to use his position as the presidential spokesman to address hunger and hardship currently facing the country at the moment.
The Vice-president, Ohanaeze Worldwide, Damian Okeke-Ogene, who spoke to journalists during a press conference in Awka, Anambra State, on Tuesday, said linking Obi to the “ugly situation” in Nigeria was totally uncalled for and unacceptable.
Okeke-Ogene berated Onanuga for urging Nigerians to hold the former Anambra governor responsible for whatever crisis that would emanate from the upcoming planned hunger/hardship protest slated for August 1-10, 2024, across the country.
He said, “Onanuga should focus more on how to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians rather than pointing accusation fingers against an innocent Nigerian. His utterances that accusing Obi of planning mayhem in the country, is highly condemnable.
“It is high time the President cautioned Mr Onanuga for his unguided utterances against Peter Obi. Rather than making such comments, Onanuga should use his position as the presidential spokesman to focus more on making Nigeria a great place for all, irrespective of tribe, ethic and religious affiliations.”
While calling on Igbos residing in other parts of the country to focus more on how to protect their properties rather than involving in the forthcoming planned protest nationwide, the Ohanaeze chieftain also appealed to the President to release the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
He lamented the continuous detention of Kanu at the DSS custody despite the courts in the country freeing him.
