Former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie has, for the second time in three months, written an open letter to her late former boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, criticizing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She accused the current government of sidelining loyalists of the previous administration while rewarding individuals perceived as adversaries of Buhari.

Onochie, who served as Special Assistant on Digital and Social Media during Buhari’s tenure and later chaired the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), also condemned the recently released ambassadorial nominee list, alleging a stark regional bias favoring the South-West.

“Nepotism at Its Peak”

On her X handle on Sunday, Onochie described the ambassadorial appointments as “blatant nepotism.” She highlighted the regional distribution of nominees as follows:

• South-South — 3
• North-West — 5
• North-Central — 5
• North-East — 5
• South-East — 6
• South-West — 11

“But hey, you are solidly in bed with nepotism,” she wrote, emphasizing the disproportionate advantage given to the South-West. She further accused the administration of rewarding those who allegedly opposed Buhari’s government, stating, “We will overlook the glaring fact of rewarding those who mobilized hostilities against Pres. Buhari’s administration. Let’s just have ambassadors.”

Nigerians “Miss” Buhari

In another post titled “To Former President Muhammadu Buhari”, Onochie noted that Nigerians across regions now openly express nostalgia for Buhari, citing worsening hunger, insecurity, and poverty under Tinubu. She praised Buhari’s discipline, modest lifestyle, transparency regarding his health, and efforts to maintain national unity.

“People are hurting. People are afraid. People miss the stability and honesty they once felt under your leadership,” she wrote, adding that she joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to help “rescue” the country. Onochie also acknowledged that Buhari loyalists contributed to the rise of the Tinubu administration, but vowed that they remain united to remove the government by 2027.

Previous Criticism of Tinubu and APC

This outburst comes just three months after Onochie publicly accused Tinubu of turning the All Progressives Congress (APC) into a “private enterprise,” lamenting a culture of impunity, nepotism, and reward for wrongdoing. She had previously alleged that party members “assault airport staff, hijack planes and are rewarded as ambassadors,” signaling that the APC no longer reflects Buhari’s values.

Growing Rift Within the Ruling Party

Onochie’s repeated criticisms underscore deepening tensions within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Her open acknowledgment that Buhari loyalists helped bring the Tinubu government to power, combined with her sharp censure of its governance, reflects internal divisions over loyalty, leadership style, and the direction of the nation.