The presidency has criticized Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, for his silence regarding the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government financial autonomy. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, called on Obi to follow Atiku Abubakar’s example by acknowledging the significant ruling and recognizing the president’s efforts in enhancing Nigeria’s governance.
In a post on his X page, Onanuga stressed that a responsible opposition should commend positive actions by the government. He questioned Obi’s silence more than 36 hours after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local councils.
Onanuga 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.”
The Supreme Court, on Thursday, ruled that all federal funds for local government councils should be directly deposited into their accounts. Justice Emmanuel Agim, leading a seven-member panel, delivered the judgment in a case brought by the federal government against the 36 state governors.
The court also barred governors from receiving, tampering with, or withholding funds meant for local governments. Additionally, the ruling prohibited governors from dissolving democratically elected local government officials, deeming such actions a violation of the 1999 Constitution.