The Presidency has criticised former Anambra State governor and prominent figure of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr Peter Obi, accusing him of political inconsistency and what it described as desperation for power.
The criticism was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X.
Onanuga was reacting to a viral video in which Obi appeared to associate himself with political figures he had previously criticised.
According to Onanuga, Obi has made a sharp reversal by now referring to politicians he once termed the “structure of criminality” as leaders.
He said this shift raised serious questions about Obi’s credibility and commitment to the principles he once championed.
In the video and related comments, Obi was quoted as acknowledging figures such as David Mark, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi as key leaders within the political space.
The Presidency noted that this stance contrasts sharply with Obi’s posture during the last election cycle, when he built his campaign around distancing himself from what he portrayed as a corrupt and discredited political establishment.
Onanuga argued that Obi’s latest remarks undermine that earlier narrative and instead point to a pattern of position changes driven by political ambition.
He said embracing figures previously condemned suggests a willingness to abandon past convictions when they no longer align with current political interests.
The Presidency also criticised what it described as Obi’s handling of his supporters, suggesting that his recent statements imply that those who believed in his earlier message were misled.
According to Onanuga, the episode reinforces concerns that Obi lacks ideological consistency, shifting his stance based on alliances and prevailing political realities.
The Presidency concluded that effective leadership demands consistency and clarity, qualities it said are absent in Obi’s approach to politics.
The post reads “Peter Obi has set a new record for political desperation. In his pursuit of the presidency, he has shown himself to be unprincipled a politician willing to go back on his words, abandon his political platform if it is no longer a significant factor in his political calculus or permutations, and even “eat his own vomit”.
“In his politics of desperation, he is willing to associate with anyone, including those he had previously pilloried. He can make U-turns on any matter even on his political ideology, if he has one.
“He certainly lacks the character of a reliable political leader. No one can be sure where he stands on any issue. He shifts with the wind and the trends on X.
“As this video clip shows, Obi has now thrown his supporters under the bus, further underscoring his series of contradictions and confusion.”
