A video showing Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, standing in the back row during the inauguration of his South African Counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday has stirred a huge controversy online forcing the presidency to release a counter video showing both leaders shaking hands......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The first video shared by fierce critic of President Tinubu, Aisha Yesufu, a follower of ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obio, showed Tinubu cladding a traditional Nigerian attire standing in the back row while a number of dignitaries took the front seats.
The South African leader, who was being inaugurated for the second term made his way in front of the dignitaries and took his time to shake hands with all those in the front row.
The Nigerian president was seen scratching his face on the video as he stood watching uncomfortably.
Critics of the president latched on to it saying Nigeria has been disrespected and called on South Africa to apologise to Nigeria.
Yesufu, who leads the Obidient online movement, (Peter Obi’s supporters) in granting interviews and responding in kind whenever her principal is attacked, posted on her x.com account that: “My people say Pikin wey no hear word for house na for outside dem go disgrace am!” to mean ‘my people, a child who refuses to listen to a word of advice at home would be disgraced in public’.
Yesufu added: “Tinubu disgraced once again in South Africa.”
Also another serial critic of the president, Madhi Shehu, who styles himself as a whistleblower and an activist took a swipe at the president alleging “millions of dollars” was spent on the trip yet to be disgraced.
“Tinubu disgraced in South Africa” he declared, alleging, “After spending millions of dollars to travel to South Africa for presidential swearing in ceremony, Tinubu was consigned to the back row, ignored in the protocol of handshake, and was left in cold blooded shock.
“A case of insult and defeat at Away matches and despised at home.
“A day is coming soon,” he added, attaching the video via his x.com account.
But in a long explanation replete with anger by a presidential aide identified as O’tega Ogra, the presidency carpeted Yesufu for what it called fake news and her wont to twist facts against the president.
Ogra who said he’s a senior special assistant to the president posted a video showing Ramaphosa shaking hands with Tinubu in another venue with several pictures saying, “Aisha, have (sic) the constitutionally guaranteed right to express yourself (six), but your consistent display of crass ignorance and shameful behaviour, seemingly aimed at garnering likes and retweets, in the name of your disdain and hatred (which you profess at any given opportunity) for Nigeria is shameful to say the least.
“For the record: 1. That first row at today’s inauguration was reserved for South African kings/royalty.
“2. The South African President wasn’t expected to start greeting dignitaries at the time of the video you shared and he was respectfully recalled to the podium by the inauguration compere (see video below).
“3. Immediately after President Ramaphosa finished the anthem, he went ahead to greet the visiting presidents who were all seated in the second row (similar to the way visiting presidents were seated in the third row during Nigeria’s own inauguration on May 29, 2023.”
He added, “Madam Yesufu, your persistent ignorance and hatred create a very toxic mix, which you have shown a remarkable ability to embody and fully personify.
“A cautionary word: With or without your personal enmity, Nigeria will succeed. I truly hope you receive your ‘Elon Cheque’ in full this month.”
Also, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, weighed in stating, “Aisha and her uncouth horde of pessimists are always quick to rush to judgment with any whiff of what appears to them to be negative to the leader of Africa’s biggest democracy.
“More than a year after the 2023 election, in which their candidate came third, they remain incurably bitter and toxic, more than the supporters of the man who came second.”
The video showing Ramaphosa did not shake hands with Tinubu has been shared many times online on social media platforms eliciting attacks and counter attacks.
