Conflicting information from the presidential media team has continued to be one of the negative marks of President Tinubu’s one year in office.
In President Tinubu’s one year in office, his media team published at least three false information to the citizens. First was the statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Ajuri Ngelale. He had said the UAE government lifted ban on visas for Nigerians after Tinubu’s official visit to the country. This statement was refuted by the UAE government. Ajuri later deleted the statement and apologized to Nigerians.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, had also said Tinubu secured a $600 million investment from Maersk, a statement refuted by Maersk. Bayo later deleted the statement he made on his X handle.
The unfortunate third, was on May 28, Bayo in a statement ahead of the May 29 one-year anniversary of Tinubu’s presidency, said the President would not address Nigerians, as is usually the norm in Nigeria.
Bayo said the president would address the joint section of the National Assembly.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not make a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday (May 29) to celebrate his first anniversary as the leader of Nigeria.
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“Instead, the President will address a joint session of the National Assembly, which has lined up a programme to commemorate 25 years of the nation’s democratic journey at both the executive and legislative levels.
“President Tinubu’s speech will dwell on the achievements of his administration and Nigeria’s democracy since the military ceded power in 1999,” Onanuga stated.
Hours after the official statement from the President’s Special Adviser of Information and Strategy, the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Ajuri Ngelale refuted Bayo’s official press release.
Ajuri described Onanuga’s statement as false and disassociated President Tinubu’s office from it. Ajuri said the president would not deliver a statement on the joint sitting of the National Assembly. He added that the office of the president was not involved in the planning of the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“In view of public commentary concerning the President delivering a speech before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly tomorrow, May 29, 2024, it is important to state that this information is false and unauthorized as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of the event,” Ngelale said.
Who Lied Again?
Nigerians were again lost on whom to believe among President Tinubu’s media team. Should they follow Ajuri who had earlier apologized on visa ban information; or should they follow Bayo who had earlier deleted $600 million Maersk investment information.
Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said it was worrisome that two media aides to Tinubu would be giving and countering each other on one piece of information.
Contrary to Ajuri’s counter of Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu addressed the Joint Sitting of the National Assembly on May 29. The President also signed into law the reversion to the old National Anthem.
As stated by Bayo, President Tinubu at the end of his speeches, commissioned the National Assembly Library and Resource Center, now known as Bola Ahmed Tinubu Building.
May 29 used to be Nigeria’s democracy day, marking the return to democratic rule from the military in 1999. However, former president, Muhammadu Buhari, through a bill, recognized June 12, as Nigeria’s democracy day. The change was in recognition of the June 12 1993 annulled election by former head of state, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.