Public affairs analyst Katch Onanuju has criticised the alleged use of financial restrictions against opposition-controlled governments, recalling his past support for President Bola Tinubu when his funds were seized during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Onanuju made the remarks during an interview on TVC News on Friday, August 7, 2026, while discussing the controversy surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) freezing of a statutory account belonging to the Osun State Government shortly before the state’s governorship election.
The analyst argued that political leaders should not deploy against their opponents the same tactics they previously condemned when they were in opposition.
Recalling his position during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor, Onanuju said he had supported Tinubu when the Obasanjo administration withheld funds belonging to the state.
“I fought for Tinubu when Obasanjo seized his money; why allow the same strategy to be meted out to members of the opposition now that you are president?” he said.
Onanuju said the principle at stake was bigger than partisan politics, arguing that actions capable of undermining the financial autonomy of an opposition-controlled state could weaken democratic institutions.
He maintained that President Tinubu, having experienced what he described as similar treatment while in opposition, should ensure that his administration does not create the impression that federal institutions are being used to exert pressure on opposition governments.
The public affairs analyst also criticised the timing of the EFCC’s intervention in Osun State, arguing that actions affecting the finances and operations of a state government shortly before an election could create the perception of political interference.
Onanuju urged political actors and government agencies to respect democratic principles and allow opposition parties and governments to operate freely, particularly during election periods.
He said consistency in upholding democratic standards was essential to preserving public confidence in Nigeria’s political institutions and ensuring that elections were conducted without undue interference…See_More
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