By VALENTINE OBIENYEM

The recent false claim by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, that 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was the one who invited the U.S. President Donald Trump to Nigeria is unfortunately consistent with his now familiar pattern of reckless misinformation. For the record, Mr. Peter Obi has never met President Trump, nor is he seeking to meet him now.

What is truly worrisome is the nature and frequency of the fabrications Mr. Onanuga continues to put out. We must recall that this is the same Bayo Onanuga who falsely alleged that Peter Obi was behind the nationwide protest that took place last year. The same man also claimed that Obi was connected to the supposed coup plot over which certain individuals were arrested.

Why would a man in his seventies persist in acts that betray both immaturity and irresponsibility? His conduct repeatedly suggests that he neither understands the gravity of the office he occupies nor the dignity that the position demands.

Nigerians often ask: Is this not the same office once held by the likes of Mr. Segun Adeniyi, Dr. Reuben Abati, and Mr. Femi Adesina? These individuals, at ages when Mr. Onanuga was already old enough to be their father, treated the office with respect and carried out their duties with restraint, professionalism, and honour. It is therefore baffling that Mr. Onanuga, despite being far older is the one diminishing the stature of a position meant to embody credibility and responsibility.

At a time when national cohesion is fragile and public trust is strained, those entrusted with official communication must speak with clarity, truth, and responsibility. Public communication ultimately serves as a mirror, revealing to the nation the true character and values of the leaders being represented. When misinformation becomes routine, it does not only expose the spokesperson, it casts a reflection on the system they speak for.

It is imperative that Mr. Onanuga rises to the demands of his office or refrains from actions that further erode the credibility of the government he represents. If it is the problem of old age, he should honourably retire. Nigeria deserves better.

•Valentine Obienyem is Special Adviser to His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi.