Bwala Slams Peter Obi Over June 12 Comments, Questions His Past

Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala has launched a scathing attack on Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, questioning his credibility to comment on Nigeria's democratic struggles.

Bwala, who serves as Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, suggested that Obi has no standing to speak on June 12 matters, claiming the former Anambra State governor was engaged in business activities in Asia during Nigeria's critical democratic transition period.

The Exchange of Words

The confrontation follows Obi's Democracy Day statements where he urged President Tinubu to emulate former presidents Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. Obi specifically called on Tinubu to acknowledge alleged irregularities in the electoral process that brought him to power, similar to Yar'Adua's admission, and to demonstrate Jonathan's democratic spirit in accepting electoral defeat.

Obi also claimed that democracy is currently under threat in Tinubu's administration, a statement that appears to have provoked Bwala's response.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening, Bwala wrote: "Please can someone confirm to me whether it is true that on June 12, 1993 and weeks after that @PeterObi Peter Gregory Obi was in Malaysia or somewhere in Asia doing buying and selling trading business? I searched the internet to see any of his involvement in the struggle for democracy, I couldn't see any link ohh."

Public Reactions

Bwala's comments have sparked varied reactions from Nigerians on social media. Some users questioned Tinubu's own role in the democratic struggle, with one user asking for evidence of the President's involvement "aside from fleeing to London to cool off."

Another user defended Obi, noting: "As at the time you mentioned he was running a multimillion dollar business... What do you mean by struggle for democracy? Could every Nigerian have been in the field marching on the streets in a bid to return the country to civil rule?"

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Tinubu administration and opposition figures, particularly as debates about Nigeria's democratic journey continue to shape political discourse in the country.

It's worth noting that Bwala himself was previously known as a critic of the Tinubu administration before joining the government as a spokesperson.

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