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

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 "in Malaysia buying and selling" during Nigeria's pivotal 1993 democratic crisis.

"I searched the internet to see any of his involvement in the struggle for democracy, I couldn't see any link," Bwala wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening.

Obi's Democracy Day Comments Spark Controversy

The exchange 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 there is "no democracy under the administration of Bola Tinubu" – a statement that appears to have provoked Bwala's response.

The Labour Party candidate and his supporters have consistently maintained that the 2023 presidential election was marred by irregularities and that its results should be invalidated.

Public Reactions to Bwala's Comments

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 asking for "evidence of Tinubu's involvement in the struggle for democracy during the period you referenced—aside from fleeing to London."

Another commenter defended Obi, noting: "As at the time you mentioned he was running a multimillion dollar business... It is very nice that you said he was running a legitimate business, not that he was dealing drugs or laundering money."

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Tinubu administration and opposition figures, particularly as Nigeria reflects on its democratic journey following the recent June 12 Democracy Day commemorations.

Political observers note that Bwala himself was previously known as a critic of the Tinubu administration before joining the government as a presidential spokesperson.

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