Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity Bayo Onanuga dismissed claims that President Tinubu vowed not to seek re-election if electricity supply failed to improve significantly. Onanuga made the clarification during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday.
Onanuga addressed reports that twisted Tinubu’s comments on power sector reforms. He stated that the president’s remarks were conditional and did not amount to an outright pledge to abandon a second term. “That is not exactly what he said,” Onanuga explained. He added that Tinubu did not phrase it as Nigerians should reject him outright.
Bayo Onanuga further detailed the original statement. Tinubu had said that if he failed to deliver on power improvements and sought re-election, Nigerians should not vote for him unless he provided adequate reasons for the shortfall. Onanuga stressed that this condition allowed for explanations based on inherited challenges.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration pursued reforms in the electricity sector after he took office. Onanuga highlighted efforts such as the signing of the Electricity Act and investments in infrastructure.
He noted ongoing work to address legacy issues like gas supply constraints and debts in the power industry. These steps, he said, aimed to boost generation and distribution capacity.
The clarification came amid criticisms from opposition figures who cited Tinubu’s campaign promises. Onanuga countered that such interpretations ignored the full context of the president’s words and the progress made despite difficulties. He urged focus on actual reforms rather than misquoted pledges.
