Former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie has penned an open letter to her late former boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, criticising the state of the nation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She accused the current administration of sidelining Buhari’s loyalists while rewarding individuals she described as political adversaries of the former president.
Onochie, who served as Special Assistant on Digital and Social Media during Buhari’s eight-year tenure and later as Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), also criticised the recently released list of ambassadorial nominees, alleging that it disproportionately favoured the South-West.
In a series of posts on her X handle on Sunday, Onochie condemned what she called “blatant nepotism” in Tinubu’s distribution of ambassadorial slots. She highlighted the regional allocation of nominees:
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South-South: 3
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North-West: 5
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North-Central: 5
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North-East: 5
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South-East: 6
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South-West: 11
“But hey, you are solidly in bed with nepotism,” she wrote, insisting that the South-West was unduly prioritised. She also accused the president of rewarding individuals who allegedly worked against the APC-led Buhari administration, saying, “We will overlook the glaring fact of rewarding those who mobilised hostilities against Pres. Buhari’s administration. Let’s just have ambassadors.”
In another post titled “To Former President Muhammadu Buhari”, Onochie expressed that Nigerians across regions are openly saying they miss Buhari amid worsening hunger, insecurity, and poverty.
“Your Excellency… Nigerians are saying something they never expected to say: ‘We miss Buhari.’ Not because your administration was flawless, but because the suffering Nigerians endure today cuts deeper than words can capture,” she wrote.
She praised Buhari’s “discipline,” “modest lifestyle,” “transparency about his health,” and perceived efforts to maintain national unity. “People are hurting. People are afraid. People miss the stability and honesty they once felt under your leadership,” she added, noting that she had joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to help “rescue” Nigeria.
Onochie also admitted that Buhari loyalists played a part in bringing the Tinubu administration to power. “We know we are guilty of installing this incompetent and clueless government, but be assured we are united in the bid to sack the government come 2027,” she wrote.
Onochie’s remarks underscore growing internal tensions within the APC as the 2027 elections approach.
Her repeated criticism of the Tinubu administration, combined with her admission that Buhari loyalists helped bring it to power, adds fuel to ongoing debates over loyalty, governance, and the party’s direction.
