The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, has criticised the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of using “baseless criticisms” to seek media attention.
Olayinka’s comments followed Obi’s visit to LEA Primary School in Kapwa, Abuja, on Wednesday, where the former Anambra State Governor lamented the school’s poor condition, describing it as a “national disgrace” and a reflection of Nigeria’s “hollow commitment to education.”
Obi, who toured the facility alongside Dr. Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, said he was shocked to find classrooms without chairs or toilets. He added that as a former governor, he had personally visited all public schools in Anambra State and left public funds for the state at the end of his tenure.
In a statement on Thursday, Olayinka accused Obi of seeking constant public attention by “turning himself into a critic of everything, including the most ridiculous.” He noted that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Minister Nyesom Wike was already carrying out significant educational infrastructure projects.
“In the FCT, real and verifiable development is taking place. 73 schools are presently being renovated across the six Area Councils, while 21 have been completely renovated,” Olayinka said.
He further alleged that Obi failed to tackle similar challenges during his time as governor of Anambra State and accused him of financial mismanagement, claiming that the state was still addressing issues from his tenure.
“Unlike Obi, who did nothing to uplift the education sector as Governor of Anambra State, the Wike-led FCTA has been building and renovating schools. 102 contracts have been awarded for school renovation, and 21 schools have already been completed,” he stated.
Olayinka also dismissed Obi’s claim that he could transform Nigeria in four years, describing him as an “Internally Displaced Politician looking for a permanent abode in the media space.”
“It’s funny that someone who doesn’t even have a political platform for 2027 is parading himself as a reformer,” he said.
“Under which party is Mr One Shoe contesting the next presidential election? Will any party still give him a ticket simply because he tells stories about having one shoe and one wristwatch?”
Olayinka maintained that the FCT Administration under Wike’s leadership remains focused on real development projects, including school rehabilitation, road construction, and public infrastructure improvement.
