Frank Shaibu, Special Assistant to Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Public Communication, has chastised President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, for praising his principal for national honours following his contribution to democracy and the fight to overturn the June 12 election result.
Shaibu responded to Onanuga’s 𝕏 post by reminding him of his opposition to military rule and speaking truth to authority.
However, Atiku’s assistant stated that Onanuga has abandoned the honorable road of speaking up for the people and has decided to embrace a government whose acts mirror the injustice he once opposed.
Read Also: 2027: PDP Acting Ridiculous, Set For Total Defeat
According to Shaibu, Onanuga mocks Nigerians’ misery, rationalizes their suffering, and spins propaganda for a system that reigns without accountability.
According to Atiku’s adviser, Onanuga has since switched sides, despite having previously supported the battle for democracy.
He wrote, “Dear Bayo,” You might have been a part of the media resistance during the June 12 protests, through TheNews and Tempo. You defied military dictatorship and spoke truth to power. History once reserved a position for you among the democratic defenders. However, you no longer pursue that great path.
“You now devote your voice, not to the people, but to a government whose actions mirror the injustice you once condemned. You support policies that exacerbate poverty, justify incompetence, and promote tyranny. You insult Nigerians’ sorrow, explain their misery, and manufacture propaganda for a regime that operates with impunity. That is not what June 12 was all about.
“So, I ask: do you actually deserve to be recognized as a June 12 hero?
“June 12 was more than just a day; it was a moral revolt. It was about the people’s will, patriots’ sacrifice, and refusing to submit to authoritarianism. Those who deserve to wear its insignia must embody its beliefs not only during the conflict, but also in the aftermath, when power tempts and truth becomes inconvenient.
“Can a guy who today defends injustice be included among the oppressed? Can one who rationalizes injustice be honored on the altar of justice?
“To reward you with a CON under the guise of June 12 is to dishonor the memories of Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Alfred Rewane, and the millions who wished for a better Nigeria. Bayo, you may have stood at the start of the war, but you have now switched sides.
“Honor is more than where you stood in the past; it is also about where you stand when it means the most. And today, you are standing against the people rather than with them. “You should wear a badge of betrayal, not a national honor.”
