Presidency accuses The Guardian Newspaper of calling for coup

The Presidency says at this time, it needs people and the media to rally around the government as the Tinubu-led administration steers the country through this challenging period to a better future.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga made the statement in response to a publication by a leading newspaper in the country calling for military intervention, is seen by the Presidency as openly inciting unrest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and advocates regime change.

Bayo Onanuga says the inflammatory headline and content deviate from responsible reporting.

Adding that the newspaper’s agenda is unmistakable from the cover illustration to the article.

According to him in attempting to create a balanced veneer, the author condemns military rule while fanning the flames of military intervention.

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“This is evident in the introduction to the article where the newspaper wrote: “Nigerians were exhilarated with the return of democracy in 1999, but 25 years on, the buccaneering nature of politicians, their penchant for poor service delivery, morbid hatred for probity, accountability, and credible/transparent elections, among others, are forcing some flustered citizens to make extreme choices, including calling for military intervention in governance. .. Deep despondency permeates every facet of the polity consequent upon soaring cost of living.”Onanuga states that Nigerians must question how The Guardian can present an argument for military intervention while superficially denouncing it unless it harbours a deliberate agenda.

This latest editorial reflects a troubling trend in which the publication has persistently propagated inflammatory and negative narratives, stepping dangerously close to undermining the very fabric of responsible journalism.

This narrative, he says neglects the hard-fought battle that birthed democracy and serves only to undermine the hard-won freedoms that Nigerians now enjoy.

Highlighting, the administration’s achievements, the special adviser explained that President Tinubu has consistently called for understanding and patience amid our nation’s challenges.

This plea is not a sign of weakness but an affirmation of his dedication to a brighter future for Nigeria.