₦airaland Forum

A GOVERNMENT HIDING BEHIND INSULTS CANNOT HIDE FROM FAILURE

Dear Mr. Bayo Onanuga,

Your latest statement on behalf of the Presidency is not a defence of democracy; it is a tantrum dressed up as a press release. When a government abandons reasoned argument for name-calling, mockery, and conspiracy theories, it is usually because it has run out of answers.

Nigeria’s opposition does not need to be “virile” to be right. It only needs to speak the truth—and the truth is that a democracy where power consolidates itself through intimidation, inducement, and selective justice is already under severe strain.

The issue is not that politicians are defecting. The issue is why defections now coincide conveniently with investigations, arrests, and relentless pressure—while allies of the ruling party enjoy a curious and consistent immunity from scrutiny. Freedom of association cannot coexist with fear of persecution. One negates the other.

Invoking history does not excuse present abuse. The fact that impunity may have existed in the past is not a licence to refine or perfect it today. A government elected on the promise of reform should not be recycling the worst habits of previous administrations while pretending to be offended by legitimate criticism.

Your repeated claim that anti-corruption agencies are “independent” rings hollow when their actions are loud, selective, and politically convenient. Independence is not proclaimed by press statements; it is demonstrated by balance, fairness, and credibility. When investigations consistently move in one political direction, citizens are entitled to ask questions—without being smeared as criminals in advance.

Dragging up allegations, insinuations, and foreign cases—some concluded, some unresolved, some merely whispered—only reinforces what your statement desperately tries to deny: that intimidation has become a tool of governance. Guilt is determined in a court of law, not in the court of propaganda.

Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list is welcome. But no economic or technical milestone can compensate for democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space, and the growing public perception that the rule of law is being bent to serve political power.

This administration must understand one thing clearly: criticism is not sabotage, opposition is not treason, and accountability is not an attack on the state. Democracies do not collapse because opposition speaks—they collapse when governments stop listening.

If the government is confident in its record, it should engage with facts, not insults; with transparency, not threats; and with humility, not hubris.

Nigeria deserves leadership—not lectures.

Phrank Shaibu
Senior Special Assistant, Public Communication
to H.E. Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999–2007

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

Odin13:
The Yoruba goons will soon land to insult and abuse ..
tinubu government is bereft of ideas .. it’s an empty brain government .. except for looting propaganda and intimidation of opposition to align with their propaganda ..
mgood is that e go clear .. Nigerians are not fools .. 27 is here already. They’re no more shouting northern support but fighting north for waking to reality.. same north the align with to Chase a southern president that didn’t finish his term.
Today Yoruba goons are trying to brainwash their fellow not Nigerians that power must retain south because of their druggie
Power will go where majority of nigerians wish it .. Nigerians must come to vote and defend their votes .. that’s how to block tinubu from his criminal activities. He must leave .. let him go to southern Nigeria and fight his votes with Peter Obi .. let see how he will succeed down south.
Northern Nigeria is already on lockdown against him

Yoruba said he’s not Jonathan and he’s a master Strategist..
27 is here already ..

E go play..

Power to the people ..

Na if the people allow you rig .. no means say you get super human brain

27 pure rig and die .. the anger is brewing already .. but Nairaland and social media of Yoruba fantasies are still sleeping on air

esnbrutality:
Welcome back

2027 must be attacked from all fronts. The compromised judiciary,police etc etc must be put in check. Even INEC must be watched closely.

Anybody but Tinubu

We must play the Yoruba politics.. anyone but tinubu.. he’s people are seeing him losing already .. they’re panicking and wailing already

North is locked down

South east is under locks

South south is a tough turf for tinubu.. it took wike more strength to rig 23 .. not his time the people have seen shege banza .. Obi is taking 70%

So where’s tinubu getting the votes

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

LagosOrigin:
Yes
You will keep improving in your insults and enabling of terrorism.

What has this government achieved aside insulting people, forcing governors to defect to APC and treating terrorists with kid gloves hmm

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

iwaeda:
Tinubu and APC are compound failures. Hardship and hunger has never been this pronounced. I don't see Tinubu beyond 2027.

[/quote][quote author=Fuckinecng post=137802554]Has the stupid onanuga ever won a single polling unit before? And what does he know about politics and governance? Irrelevant people everywhere forming important.

Odin13:
The Yoruba goons will soon land to insult and abuse ..
tinubu government is bereft of ideas .. it’s an empty brain government .. except for looting propaganda and intimidation of opposition to align with their propaganda ..
mgood is that e go clear .. Nigerians are not fools .. 27 is here already. They’re no more shouting northern support but fighting north for waking to reality.. same north the align with to Chase a southern president that didn’t finish his term.
Today Yoruba goons are trying to brainwash their fellow not Nigerians that power must retain south because of their druggie
Power will go where majority of nigerians wish it .. Nigerians must come to vote and defend their votes .. that’s how to block tinubu from his criminal activities. He must leave .. let him go to southern Nigeria and fight his votes with Peter Obi .. let see how he will succeed down south.
Northern Nigeria is already on lockdown against him

Yoruba said he’s not Jonathan and he’s a master Strategist..
27 is here already ..

E go play..

Power to the people ..

Na if the people allow you rig .. no means say you get super human brain

27 pure rig and die .. the anger is brewing already .. but Nairaland and social media of Yoruba fantasies are still sleeping on air

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

HgAkpobomeEr:
No government can be perfect. We will keep improving.

politicoNG:
Invoking history does not excuse present abuse
SOURCE

floss:
One funny thing about people like Onanuga is that after spilling this trash, tomorrow if Atiku becomes president, he’ll gladly accept appointment trying to justify the trash of today…

Shameless psychopaths in government

anonimi:
March 21, 2011

Tinubu rules out alliance with CPC

Prospect of a possible alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, was dashed yesterday in Kano as the leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu described CPC as parading “expired leadership.”

Tinubu told ACN supporters in Kano during the party’s Presidential rally that: “What Nigerians need now is a transformation in leadership” as obtained in the advanced economy.

The two-term Governor of Lagos State explained that the leadership of ACN was offering Nigeria the brilliance of Nuhu Ribadu who, he said, is in the class of Nicolas Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain, Medvedev of Russia and Barack Obama of the United States of America.

“What has CPC got to offer? We certainly don’t need expired leadership as we are offering the best in terms of brilliance, courage and patriotism in the class of Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain and Barack Obama of the USA.”

Tinubu’s position came on the heels of Ribadu’s declaration penultimate week in Kaduna when he hinted during a political rally of a joint ticket between the two opposition parties to confront the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The national leader of ACN criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for shying away from the national debate held last Friday, stressing that”that singular act exposed Jonathan as a coward who has nothing to offer.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/tinubu-rules-out-alliance-with-cpc/