‘Peter Obi Made Spokesperson Job Look Easy’ — JP Attueyi Takes Aim at Kenneth Okonkwo

Social media commentator JP Attueyi has criticised Kenneth Okonkwo over his recent defence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposed fuel affordability policy, arguing that Okonkwo appeared more convincing when he was speaking on behalf of Peter Obi.

Attueyi made the comment in a September 27 post on X while reacting to a debate over Okonkwo’s recent television appearances as spokesperson for Atiku’s 2027 presidential campaign.

“A lot of you don't know how easy Peter Obi made it to be a spokesperson,” Attueyi wrote.

He added: “Remember when Kenneth seemed so cerebral? It was because he was defending substance.”

Attueyi also compared Okonkwo’s current political communication with the controversy surrounding Daniel Bwala’s now-famous statement, “this is a water,” before turning specifically to Okonkwo’s comments on petrol subsidy.

“Kenneth said subsidy can be restored without any plan,” he alleged.

The post followed another X reaction from a user identified as Minister Ud, who directly appealed to Atiku to intervene over what the user described as Okonkwo’s inability to make sense in his recent public comments.

Okonkwo has recently faced questions over Atiku’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Atiku has said he would restore the subsidy, prompting criticism from opponents who argue that the policy would return Nigeria to a costly system that previous governments struggled to sustain.

Okonkwo, however, has rejected the interpretation that Atiku intends to revive the old subsidy arrangement.

According to him, Atiku’s proposed Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan (AFAP) would focus on making petrol cheaper by increasing domestic refining and ensuring that local refineries have access to crude oil at a fair price.

Okonkwo has argued that the previous subsidy system became associated with problems arising from dependence on imported petrol and alleged manipulation of import volumes and costs.

He has also criticised the Tinubu administration's decision to remove the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy has increased the cost of living and reduced purchasing power.

Okonkwo's current role has attracted considerable attention because he previously served as one of Obi's prominent campaign spokespersons during the 2023 presidential election.

He has since joined the ADC political camp and become spokesperson for Atiku's 2027 presidential campaign.

In a recent interview, Okonkwo said he had changed his position on several claims he previously made while defending Obi, particularly concerning the former Anambra governor's record on debts and financial obligations.

He said he was “misled” at the time and described his role in 2023 as conducting the “examination in chief,” while saying his role in the 2027 election would amount to a “cross-examination.”

The shift has prompted reactions from Obi supporters and other commentators, with some questioning whether Okonkwo's current criticisms are consistent with his earlier public positions.

Attueyi's latest comments are part of that wider social-media debate. His characterization of Obi as providing “substance” and his criticism of Okonkwo's current performance are opinions expressed by Attueyi and are not independent assessments of either politician's policy positions.

The debate over Atiku's fuel proposal, meanwhile, remains focused on how the proposed affordability mechanism would be funded and implemented, and how it would differ from Nigeria's previous petrol subsidy regime.