Activist Aisha Yesufu's comments about President Tinubu allegedly being snubbed by South Africa's Ramaphosa at an inauguration event sparked fierce debate. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga rebuked Yesufu's claims, calling her followers "pessimists," while Tinubu's aide O’tega Ogra accused her of seeking social media validation over constructive discourse.
Activist Aisha Yesufu's recent remarks about President Bola Tinubu have ignited a contentious debate on social media, prompting a strong rebuttal from the presidency. Yesufu alleged on Twitter that Tinubu was snubbed and embarrassed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during an inauguration event after Ramaphosa's re-election.
In response, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga labeled Yesufu and her followers as "an uncouth horde of pessimists" who are still bitter about their candidate's third-place finish in the 2023 elections.
Onanuga criticized Yesufu for making premature judgments and maintaining a negative stance towards Tinubu, contrasting her behavior with that of supporters of the second-place candidate.
O’tega Ogra, Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, also criticized Yesufu, accusing her of showing "crass ignorance" and seeking social media validation rather than engaging constructively.
Ogra stated, “Aisha, you have the constitutionally guaranteed right to express yourself, but your consistent display of crass ignorance and shameful behavior, 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."
Ogra clarified the events Yesufu referred to, explaining that the first row at the inauguration was reserved for South African royalty, and that President Ramaphosa was not expected to greet dignitaries at the moment captured in the video shared by Yesufu. Ogra added that Ramaphosa later greeted the visiting presidents seated in the second row, similar to the arrangement during Nigeria’s own inauguration on May 29, 2023.
The heated exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions and the polarized reactions to President Tinubu's administration.
