The presidency has criticized 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate Peter Obi for his silence on the Supreme Court’s recent judgement granting financial autonomy to local governments.
Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, urged Obi to follow Atiku Abubakar’s lead and comment on the significant ruling, acknowledging the positive impact the president is having on Nigeria.
In a social media post, Onanuga emphasized that a strong opposition should be able to acknowledge the successes of its political opponents.
He wrote: “Why is Peter Obi silent?
“More than 36 hours after the Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling, granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local councils, Mr. Peter Obi, the defeated Labour Party candidate, has yet to utter a word on the epochal judgment.
“His silence confirms the belief that he is always quick to tweet unverified news about the Tinubu administration or our country.
“A good opposition statesman must be candid enough to applaud his political opponent when he has done some great deed. The Tinubu administration has succeeded in giving life back to our emasculated councils, using the instrumentality of the law.
“Even Atiku Abubakar has grudgingly admitted this. But Peter has been silent. He should break his silence and acknowledge that President Tinubu is making a great Nigeria possible.”
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that all federal funds for local government councils must be paid directly into their accounts. The judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim and a panel of seven justices, was in response to a lawsuit filed by the federal government against the 36 state governors.
Additionally, the court issued a prohibition on governors from interfering with or withholding funds meant for local governments.
