Presidency Urges Peter Obi to Break Silence and Commend Tinubu on LG Autonomy Ruling

The presidency has criticized Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, for his silence regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling that grants financial autonomy to local governments.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, urged Obi to emulate Atiku Abubakar by acknowledging the historic judgement and recognizing the president’s efforts to enhance Nigeria’s governance.

In a post on his X page, Onanuga emphasized that effective opposition should also involve giving credit where it is due.

He wrote: “Why is Peter Obi silent? Over 36 hours have passed since the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling granting financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local councils, yet Peter Obi, the defeated Labour Party candidate, has not commented on this significant judgment. His silence suggests he is quick to criticize the Tinubu administration or our country based on unverified news but is reluctant to acknowledge positive developments.

“A good opposition statesman should be candid enough to praise his political opponent’s achievements. The Tinubu administration has successfully restored the autonomy of our local councils through legal means. Even Atiku Abubakar has grudgingly admitted this. Peter Obi should break his silence and recognize that President Tinubu is working towards making Nigeria great.”

On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that all federal funds for local government councils should be directly deposited into their accounts. Justice Emmanuel Agim, who led a seven-member panel of justices, delivered the judgment in a case filed by the federal government against the 36 state governors.

The court also prohibited the governors from receiving, tampering with, or withholding funds meant for local governments. Additionally, the court barred the governors from dissolving democratically elected local government officials, stating that such actions violate the 1999 Constitution.