Presidency backtracks, apologises for claiming Tinubu first African president to ring NASDAQ bell

• No sooner had the presidency made the claim than many Nigerians called it out on its distortion of fact and what is gradually becoming an incessant use of propaganda by the president’s media and publicity team

The presidency has recanted its claim that President Bola Tinubu is the first African leader to ring the bell at NASDAQ.

On Tuesday, shortly after performing the act, a statement released by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, claimed Tinubu as the “first African president ever to receive the honour”.

Many top mainstream broadcast and print media outlet also reported the the claim with doing due diligence and basic fact-check

No sooner had the presidency made the claim than many Nigerians called it out on its distortion of fact and what is gradually becoming an incessant use of propaganda by the president’s media and publicity team to portray him good light in view of largely disenchanted public and also to provide a semblance of good governance instead of putting in the real work that engenders actual good governance that addresses the many challenges that plague the country and beset its people.

Contrary to Ngelale’s claim, Jakaya Kiwete, former president of Tanzania, rang the the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) closing bell in 2011.

In a statement on Friday, the presidency said the error was “deeply regretted”.

It said it was misinformed by a third party event organiser.

“We inadvertently referred to President Bola Tinubu as the first African leader to ring the bell at NASDAQ on Wednesday in New York, based on the information provided by a third-party event organiser.”

“We have since found out that this information was/is incorrect as a former African leader has indeed had the privilege. This error is sincerely regretted,” the statement said.