Transformational executive and political strategist, Olatorera Oniru, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it rewards political allies, normalises corruption and makes life difficult for ordinary Nigerians.

In a statement on Friday, Ms Oniru said Mr Tinubu’s public profile was founded on falsities, accusing the president of turning public service into a mafia operation.

“Let us be honest about Tinubu; his entire public profile is allegedly built on falsities — his age, his academic records, his health status, and his wealth,” the statement read. “His leadership has normalized corruption, rewarded cronies, and turned public service into a mafia operation. What we are witnessing is not leadership, it is network maintenance while the majority perish.”

The political strategist further condemned the arrest and detention of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore as unlawful, describing the development as a national signal that must usher in transformational change.

“The unprovoked arrest of political activist Omoyele Sowore has once again revealed the reality of Nigeria’s political climate. No formal charge, no legal explanation, and no transparency,” she noted.

Hailing Mr Sowore for his continued commitment to justice and the Nigerian people, Ms Oniru challenged the politician to stop protesting from the sidelines and start building political structure and strategy to become president.

“For many decades, he (Sowore) has refused to join the game. He has no political godfather, no stolen wealth, no corruption baggage. He has always stood for justice. He is courageous and evidently genuinely committed to the people, a rare ethical voice in Nigerian politics. But activism is not governance. He must pivot. Enough protesting from the sidelines. Nigeria needs him to step up and take the presidency. He has the heart, but he must now bring strategy, structure and the will to win. The time to act is now, while his ideals are still fresh and his energy uncompromised,” she added.

Ms Oniru noted that while Peter Obi speaks of change and presents himself as a break from the old, the former Anambra State governor benefited from the country’s regressive system, urging Nigerians to reject recycled leadership and embrace leaders driven by competence, integrity and vision.

She added, “Peter Obi presents himself as a break from the old, but his roots are in the same soil. He speaks of change, but benefits from the regressive system. His speeches are polished, but allegedly mostly written by aides. His vision is marketed, not lived. He is not the worst of the old system, but he is very much a product of it. He may be more refined than Tinubu but that does not make him the change Nigeria needs. Nigeria does not need managed branding; it needs moral courage.

“Citizens deserve more than orchestrated deception. We must stop choosing leaders who thrive on manipulation and mediocrity. Nigeria is a nation of brilliance. We must be led by those who elevate, not exploit.’’