The presidency insists that President Bola Tinubu is entitled to the same constitutional opportunity as his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari: two full terms in office.
Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, affirmed this point during an interview on Trust Radio. He emphasized that Tinubu is Nigerian—and therefore deserving of the full two-term limit granted by the constitution. Onanuga urged both citizens and politicians to avoid self-serving agendas, stressing that national interest must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition.
According to Onanuga, critics targeting Tinubu are motivated by regional prejudice. He claimed that allegations of Northern marginalization are politically driven attempts to foment discord along geographical lines.
The adviser also refuted claims that Tinubu’s administration has neglected the Northern region in appointments or development. Rather, he described such assertions as based on falsehoods and rooted in political motive.
He called on detractors to present evidence for their claims instead of indulging in sweeping generalizations. Onanuga pointed to the appointment of Northerners to key security positions—including the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and two Defence Ministers—as proof of balanced representation.
Moreover, he cited improved security in parts of the North as tangible progress under President Tinubu. He referenced safer travel between Kaduna and Abuja—a journey once deemed perilous—as an indicator that stability is increasing.
In Sum: The presidency is firmly asserting President Tinubu’s constitutional right to seek a second term. It dismisses allegations of ethnic bias and marginalization as politically motivated, while highlighting strategic appointments and measured improvements in national security as evidence of inclusive governance.
