Bayo Onanuga deletes tweet dismissing Northern role in Buhari’s election win

 

 

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga has deleted a post on X  that sparked outrage over his comments downplaying the role of northern votes in the electoral victories of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari

Bayo Onanuga deletes tweet dismissing North role in Buhari’s election win

The controversy began when a user shared a video showing a massive crowd at a Buhari campaign rally in Ibadan, highlighting his nationwide appeal beyond the North. Onanuga responded:
“A video to rejig the memory of those who claimed only Buhari’s 12 million votes gave him the presidency in 2015 and 2019.”

His remark was met with swift criticism, with many accusing him of undermining the importance of Buhari’s well-known northern support base—often referred to as his “12 million bloc votes”—widely credited for delivering both of his presidential victories.

Amid growing backlash, Onanuga quietly took down the tweet without offering any explanation, prompting even more reactions from Nigerians who saw the move as a quiet retreat.

The timing of the statement further intensified the response, coming just days after Buhari’s d3ath in a London hospital at the age of 82. Many Nigerians considered Onanuga’s comment insensitive and divisive during a period of national mourning.