The Presidency has criticised former Anambra State governor and National Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi over his recent call for increased Federal Government investment in sports.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, accused Obi of making what he described as reckless claims about sports development and questioned his record during his time as governor of Anambra State.
Onanuga made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday while responding to Obi’s comments on the need for greater government support for the sports sector.
“Headlines don’t lie like Peter Obi lies, recklessly,” Onanuga wrote.
He also claimed that Obi’s record on sports during his eight years as governor was documented and criticised his administration’s alleged treatment of athletes in the state.
“His poor sports record as governor is well documented in the archives,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga questions Obi’s sports record
The presidential aide further alleged that athletes with disabilities in Anambra were also treated poorly during Obi’s tenure.
He questioned why Obi was now advocating increased Federal Government spending on sports despite what he described as his record as governor.
“Today, he talks, very glibly, of course, about the need for the FG to invest in sport, when, as governor for 8 years, he treated Anambra sportsmen and women and even, unconscionably, the physically challenged sportsmen and women shabbily,” Onanuga wrote.
The comments followed Obi’s recent call for greater investment in Nigerian sports.
Obi made the call after attending a Nigeria Premier Football League match between Ikorodu City and Enugu Rangers at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.
The former Anambra governor expressed concern about the state of sports development in Nigeria, arguing that the country has significant sporting talent but lacks the vision and commitment required to turn that talent into opportunities for young Nigerians.
Obi’s comments focused on the need for stronger investment in sports infrastructure and development, while Onanuga’s response shifted attention to Obi’s record in Anambra during his tenure as governor.
The exchange comes as both men remain active in the political space ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Obi expected to contest the presidency under the NDC.
