Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has rejected a statement made by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo claimed that former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), was one of the people who troubled Tinubu during Nigeria’s military era.

Osinbajo made this statement while reviewing Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, during its public launch in Abuja.

He recalled how Tinubu, who was a senator at the time, opposed the military’s decision to dissolve the Senate after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. According to Osinbajo, Tinubu was “tormented” by Babangida and other military leaders, yet he was now celebrating one of them.

However, Onanuga disagreed with this version of events. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a program on Channels Television, Onanuga clarified that Babangida was not Tinubu’s tormentor but rather a major influence on his political career.

“I think the former Vice President got it wrong. Babangida was not really a tormentor of President Tinubu. Don’t forget that in his own speech at the event, Tinubu acknowledged that Babangida inspired him to go into politics,” Onanuga said.

“The military president had talked about bringing in fresh faces, and many professionals, including Tinubu, heeded that call. So, he went there (the book launch) to pay homage,” Onanuga added.

He explained that Tinubu’s real struggles with the military started under General Sani Abacha when he and some other lawmakers tried to restore the Senate in Lagos.

Onanuga’s response aims to correct the narrative, emphasizing that Babangida played a positive role in Tinubu’s political journey.