Onanuga disagrees with Osinbajo, says IBB inspired Tinubu

The Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s claim that former military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), was one of those who tormented the president during the military era.

Osinbajo made the remark while reviewing Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, recalling how Tinubu resisted the military’s dissolution of the Senate following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Onanuga countered the claim, stating that Babangida was instrumental in 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.

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He explained that Babangida’s call for new-breed politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s attracted several technocrats and private sector professionals, including 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.

Onanuga also noted that Tinubu’s real challenges with the military began under General Sani Abacha when he and some lawmakers attempted to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.

He further commended Babangida for recently acknowledging that Chief MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, though he said the admission came too late.