Mixed reactions as presidential aide clarifies video of President Tinubu

A recent video shared on social media featuring President Bola Tinubu has sparked mixed reactions from users on X (formerly Twitter).

On Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Tinubu, clarified that the video, which showed the president urging Nigerians to endure the “present temporary pain” and trust in his administration’s reforms, is not recent.

The video was first posted by Ortega Ogra, senior special assistant to the president on new media, at 1:43 PM on Wednesday, and was later shared on the official X handles of President Tinubu and the presidency.

The timing of the video, amid ongoing protests against economic hardship in parts of the country, led to a wave of reactions online.

Onanuga tweeted that the video was actually from a previous broadcast made last year, not a new statement from the president.

READ ALSO: Tinubu urges Nigerians to endure economic hardships, promises brighter future

He emphasized that President Tinubu had not addressed the nation since his nationwide broadcast on Sunday.

“Trending video of President Tinubu is an old video. 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,” Onanuga wrote.

This clarification has led to criticism of the presidential media team, with some Nigerians accusing them of incompetence and miscommunication. Reactions on social media highlighted frustration over the perceived lack of coordination within the president’s communication team.

Some users expressed disappointment, calling for better management and clarity in the president’s public communications.

This incident follows previous instances where the presidential media team has been criticized for conflicting statements.

As the video continues to circulate, the controversy adds to the scrutiny faced by President Tinubu’s administration during a challenging economic period for the country.