Social media has erupted in outrage after Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, publicly called out the President for posting an old video as if it were new. The incident has sparked widespread criticism and confusion, highlighting apparent communication issues within the Presidency.
The controversy began after President Tinubu faced backlash for a recent broadcast addressing the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. The broadcast was widely criticized for lacking empathy and being filled with empty promises. In an apparent attempt to mitigate the negative reactions, President Tinubu posted another video on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, urging Nigerians to be patient with his administration.
The video quickly went viral, garnering significant attention from media outlets, including Ejes Gist News, which reported on the President’s latest appeal.
Watch the video
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Bayo Onanuga took to his X page to denounce the video as fake.
“Trending video of President Tinubu is an old video,” Onanuga wrote. “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 statement immediately set off a wave of reactions across social media, with many Nigerians expressing confusion and frustration over the mixed messages coming from the Presidency.
@firstladyship tweeted: “Bola Tinubu’s account posted it. The Presidency posted it as well. There is a silent war between Bayo Onanuga & Ajuri Ngelale, & it’s affecting their messaging. Bayo will post, Ajuri will deny. Ajuri will post, Bayo will deny. Their untidiness is getting out of hand.”
@MissPearls added: “Tinubu posted a video on his official handle. Bayo Onanuga said it is FAKE. Who’s fooling who? 😂”
Another user, @Harry, sarcastically commented: “Presidential Media Aide and Spokesman Bayo Onanuga debunks video posted by @officialABAT. Be like dem no dey pay media aide again o.”
The incident has raised serious questions about the coordination and communication within President Tinubu’s media team. With conflicting messages coming from key figures, many Nigerians are left wondering about the credibility and reliability of information being disseminated from the highest levels of government.
As the fallout from this incident continues, it remains to be seen how the Presidency will address the apparent rift within its communication apparatus.
