Bayo Onanuga, the Particular Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Data and Technique, has revealed how his efforts and people of another journalists have been instrumental to ending the army regimes of former dictators – Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha.
Onanuga disclosed this in a programme titled ‘Mic On Podcast’ hosted by Channels TV presenter, Seun Okinbaloye.
The video was launched on Saturday.
Babangida dominated Nigeria as a army dictator for eight years from 1985 to 1993 earlier than Nigerian statesman, Ernest Shonekan succeeded him because the Head of the Interim Nationwide Authorities.
Shonekan’s interim authorities would later be toppled by the emergence of Abacha, who dominated from 1993 to 1998 earlier than his demise.
The presidential aide and a former media government labored as an editor on the defunct African Harmony journal earlier than founding TheNews journal.
In his interview, Onanuga acknowledged that his efforts, alongside others, have been to assist put the nation on the appropriate path and pave the transition from army rule to a democratic system of presidency.
He recalled that they (journalists) started to query the ills of society throughout his time as an editor on the African Harmony journal, saying, “At the moment, my journalism was centrered on taking a look at individuals on the centre level of points moderately than simply taking a look at points.
“So, if Babangida was messing up in these days, we tried to query him, not taking a look at points.”
Onanuga added, “What we have been doing in these days, we have been making an attempt to make it possible for this nation is placed on the appropriate path. That we have been combating for democracy, for the rights of all Nigerians, and at the moment, we have been able to lose our personal comfort and every thing to make it possible for this nation was well-governed.”
He famous that as a substitute of the army, it was higher “for us to have those who we elect out of our personal free will and never for troopers as a result of they’ve the weapons to manipulate our individuals.
“That was all we have been doing at the moment.”
When requested if he thought his goal was achieved as a journalist, then the presidential aide mentioned, “In fact. I believe on the finish of the day when the army left energy, even when Babangida left energy in 1993, I believe we have been very joyful that at the least we succeeded in pushing him out.
“And when Abacha took over and we discovered that he wasn’t prepared to permit democracy to reign, we additionally started a brand new spherical of battle, and when he died, we have been very joyful that he died,” noting that earlier than Abacha’s demise, some journalists, together with himself needed to run away, saying, “We got here again to our nation to proceed to play our roles to make it possible for this nation enthrones democracy.
“And I believe as a journalist, due to the campaign that we fought for at the moment, I believe I’ll say our campaign succeeded.”
