Opposition’s Baseless Attacks Distract from National Progress, Accountability – Presidency

The Presidency said a collection of failed opposition figures, unable to accept their political decline, has resorted to a familiar strategy of spreading misinformation and seeking scapegoats.

In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information& Strategy), dated December 14,2025, the Presidency stated that, “Their recent gathering served only to rehearse tired accusations in a desperate bid for relevance.”

It explained that their primary complaint—that the voluntary movement of citizens into the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) threatens democracy—is both ironic and baseless. Our constitution guarantees freedom of association.

“When similar movements benefited their party in the past, they raised no alarms. Today, these defections are a clear endorsement of the visible gains from President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda,” the statement said.

It stated that, “Furthermore, these politicians now absurdly accuse the President of weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as they face scrutiny. The Presidency does not direct the EFCC—an independent agency established by law to investigate financial crimes without fear or favour.

“It is revealing that individuals who once championed accountability now wage war against it. The EFCC’s mandate is clear: investigate and prosecute financial crimes, regardless of the individual’s status or political affiliation.

“Those with nothing to hide should welcome the opportunity to clear their names before the courts, not attack the institutions.”

The Presidency noted that “some signatories to these allegations have long been under EFCC investigation or implicated in international money laundering probes, with accomplices jailed abroad. Their newfound concern for political weaponisation appears to be a reaction to the long arm of the law finally catching up.”

The statement affirmed that President Tinubu is focused on addressing significant national issues, not on political targeting.

“The judicial process, not the presidency, determines guilt or innocence,” it stated, urging these politicians to cease undermining our institutions and the national fight against corruption.

“Accountability is a collective responsibility. It must not be trivialised by baseless allegations designed to obscure the truth and promote impunity,” the Presidency said.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts