Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has dismissed claims by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 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, at its public presentation in Abuja.
He recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, resisted the military’s dissolution of the Senate following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. In a lighthearted comment, Osinbajo pointed out that Tinubu, who was once “tormented” by the military, including Babangida, was now present to celebrate one of his former adversaries.
However, speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday, Onanuga countered the claim, insisting that Babangida was, in fact, instrumental in Tinubu’s political rise.
“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.
He explained that Babangida’s call for new-breed politicians in the late 1980s and early 1990s encouraged technocrats and private sector professionals, including Tinubu, to join 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 challenges with the military only began under General Sani Abacha when he and some lawmakers attempted to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.
Onanuga also commended Babangida’s recent admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election but noted that such acknowledgement had come too late.
