Drama as Tinubu’s aides disagree over president’s video begging Nigerians to look beyond hardship
There appears to be a cold war between two of President Bola Tinubu’s media aides over a video that appeared on his verified X page on Wednesday.
Intel Region earlier reported that the President in the video acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are going through as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
In the video, President Tinubu said; “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture.
“All I good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know they would work. Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap.
“I plead with you, please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern of your wellbeing. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education because of lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter. I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) August 7, 2024
“Now, I must get back to work to make the vision complete. Thank you for listening and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”’
A quick search showed that the message had initially been posted on the X page of O’tega Ogra, who is a Senior Special Assistant to the president.
A Passionate Plea from President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT to all Nigerians.
📹: STATEHOUSE pic.twitter.com/Jz5gUR3xdA
— O'tega Ogra (@otegaogra) August 7, 2024
Ogra uploaded the same video at 1:49 pm on Wednesday and wrote: “A Passionate Plea from President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT to all Nigerians.”
While several Nigerians felt the address was another appeal to end the ongoing protest against bad governance and hardship in the country, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, however, said the trending video is not new.
He explained that the clip is from the broadcast President Tinubu made last year, noting that the Nigerian leader has not made any other public statement since his last broadcast on Sunday.
“Trending video of President Tinubu is an old video,” Onanuga posted on X on Thursday.
“A trending video of President Tinubu which came out on Wednesday is not a new video. It’s a clip from the broadcast he made last year. President Tinubu has not made any other public statement since his last broadcast on Sunday.”
Onanuga’s tweet led to a lot of interesting takes on the social media app.
@I_Am_Ilemona wrote: “Omo!!! We have never had such an incompetent presidency. This video was posted on the president’s personal and official handles and passes off as current. Now one of the president’s media aides is disavowing it. Kai! Kai!! Kai!!!”
@Osi_Suave said: “If the president knows what is good for him he needs to clean that comms department from top to bottom. Because what is this.”
@MCARIZONA5 pointed out: “If you guys have sense you will know that there is a crisis in Villa also because the presidency posted this video today also which means there is a war going on, for Bayo to come here to deny this Omo great time ahead!”
