Politics

Peter Obi must have failed History in school – Onanuga

Published By Paul Dada

Date 4th August, 2025

Peter Obi and Bayo Onanuga

Quick Read

Obi had reiterated in a statement that he would serve only one term as president if voted in 2027, just like Lincoln, Kennedy, and Mandela. However, Onanuga responded on Facebook, saying Obi must have "flunked history in school" because he cited the wrong examples.

By Paul Dada

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), has criticised presidential hopeful Peter Obi for getting his facts wrong about two past US Presidents, Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy. He also excoriated Obi for taking former South African President, the late Nelson Mandela, as an example he would emulate.

Obi had reiterated in a statement that he would serve only one term as president if voted in 2027, just like Lincoln, Kennedy, and Mandela. However, Onanuga responded on Facebook, saying Obi must have “flunked history in school” because he cited the wrong examples.

He said said Abraham Lincoln had finished his first term, won re-election, and been sworn in for a second term before his assassination in 1865. Lincoln began his first term on March 4, 1861, won re-election on November 8, 1864, and was sworn in on March 4, 1865, before his assassination on April 15, 1865.

Onaugua said John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, came into office on January 20, 1960, and was assassinated on November 22, 1963, before the expiration of his first term.

About Nelson Mandela, the presidential aide said he served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and declined a run for a second term due to his age, 81 at the end of his first term.

Onanuga suggested Mandela’s example might be more suitable for Obi’s rival who would be 81 by 2027

The post read: “Peter Obi, the aspiring presidential candidate of the fledgling opposition party, must have flunked history in school. In justifying his so-called ‘sacrosanct’ pledge to serve only one term of four years, he cited Abraham Lincoln, JFK, and Nelson Mandela as leaders he wanted to emulate.

A simple fact check by a politician who always challenges his gullible and unthinking mob to verify his statements would have revealed that he quoted the wrong examples.

“Obi would have found that Lincoln, at the time he was assassinated, had finished his first term, had won re-election, and had been sworn in for a second term.

Lincoln began his first term on March 4, 1861. He won re-election on November 8, 1864, and was sworn in on March 4, 1865, before his assassination on April 15, 1865.

John F. Kennedy, who shared a similar tragic fate with Lincoln, came into office on 20 January 1960 as the 35th President of the United States. He was assassinated on November 22, 1963, before the expiration of his first term.

“Nelson Mandela served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He declined a run for a second term on account of his age. Mandela, at the end of his first term as president, was 81 years old. He decided to retire from politics rather than contest for another five-year term. Mandela’s example might be more appropriately recommended to Obi’s rival for the opposition ticket, who will turn 81 by 2027.”

Tags: bayo onanuga Peter Obi

Quick Read

Comments