‘Oppose First, Think Later’ – Top Presidential Aide Ogra Knocks Opposition Over ‘Perpetual Negativity’

Presidential aide O’tega Ogra has accused opposition politicians of embracing what he described as a culture of “perpetual negativity,” arguing that critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration have made it a habit to oppose government policies and programmes regardless of their benefits to Nigerians.

Ogra stated this while reacting to criticisms of some of the administration’s initiatives, insisting that constructive opposition is vital to democracy but warning against what he called a reflexive tendency to condemn every action of government.

Quoting an African proverb that says, “When you point one finger, four others point back at you,” Ogra took aim at critics who had previously defended the distribution of grants ranging from N7,000 to N10,000 to small business owners but were now questioning the First Lady’s grants of N50,000 and above to similar beneficiaries.

“Supporters of the individual seen in this video talking about him giving grants of N7,000 to N10,000 for micro businesses, and explaining why it is a good thing to the beneficiaries, suddenly have their pants in a twist because our First Lady has been providing grants of N50,000 and above to similar businesses,” he said, adding”The irony writes itself, as always.”

The presidential aide maintained that disagreement with government policies was healthy and necessary in a democratic society but urged critics not to sacrifice objectivity for partisan interests.

“Talk if you may. Disagree if you must. Criticise if you wish. But do not abandon your common sense in the dark simply because your type of politics demands it,” he charged.

Ogra also referred to recent comments by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for the 2027 election, saying he agreed with Obi’s position that opposition parties should speak up when things go wrong but insisted that criticism must be constructive and balanced.

“I am aware of Mr Peter Obi’s recent interview where he said it is the opposition’s job to be the harbinger of bad news and to speak when things are wrong. No serious democracy can function without constructive opposition. The keyword is constructive.

“But what we see daily from our opposition is nothing more than being the harbinger of negativity, which, to the best of my knowledge, is certainly not constructive,” he pointed out.

According to Ogra, many opposition figures have chosen to view every positive development recorded by the Tinubu administration through a partisan lens.

“What is curious, and I use the word generously, is an opposition that treats every good thing and positive development by this government as a personal injury.

“When the First Lady empowers micro businesses with grants? Silence or suspicion. When the President commissions infrastructure? Outrage. Students receive NELFUND support? They predict failure. Tax reforms reduce the burden on millions? They manufacture fear,” he declared.

He insisted that the pattern reflected an unwillingness to acknowledge progress when it occurs.

“Every solid policy is met with the same reflex. Oppose first, think later,” he stated categorically.

Describing the trend as political contrarianism rather than genuine accountability, Ogra said: “This is not accountability. This is a mood disorder dressed up as political philosophy. Contrarianism masquerading as principle.”

He warned that national development could be undermined if political actors become more invested in discrediting achievements than in advancing the country’s interests.

“A country cannot move forward if some people are emotionally invested in ensuring that nothing good is ever acknowledged simply because they are not the ones in office.
“Decide for yourselves whether perpetual negativity is the kind of opposition Nigeria truly needs,” he added.