The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Strategy and Information to President Bola Tinubu, labelling him a “loose cannon” unfit to represent the presidency.
In a statement issued by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko on Monday, HURIWA advised President Tinubu to appoint a more professional and reflective spokesperson.
The rights group stated that Onanuga frequently issues contradictory statements and accused him of misrepresenting a recent Guardian report, which highlighted the impact of hunger, poverty, and rising living costs in Nigeria.
According to the HURIWA, Onanuga’s misinterpretation of the report reflected poor judgment, as it distorted the newspaper’s coverage of Nigerians calling for military intervention, which the paper neither endorsed nor supported.
HURIWA further criticised Onanuga for defending the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
Onanuga had explained that security agencies could not arrest Bello because he was allegedly hiding under the immunity enjoyed by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
The rights group dismissed Onanuga’s reasoning as flawed, emphasising that immunity from prosecution, as provided in Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, only covers the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors—not their residences or associates.
The group said the idea that government houses can serve as safe havens for fugitives is both misleading and dangerous, adding that law enforcement has the authority to arrest wanted persons, regardless of where they seek refuge.
The group also urged President Tinubu to appoint a spokesperson capable of promoting accountability and avoiding controversial statements that undermine public trust.
“We urge president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a qualified, more soberly, reflective and professional media spokesman to stop the loose Canon which Bayo Onanuga is from making Nigerians and the listening World think or believe that Nigeria is a dungeon whereby outlaws or wanted persons can hide inside the houses of governors or president and wouldn’t be arrested because the constitutional provision of immunity from prosecution in section 308 which covers only governors, deputy governors, president and the vice president but does not cover their households to become Refuge of accused persons or persons wanted by law enforcement agencies,” HURIWA said.