Presidency Responds to Aisha Yesufu’s Allegations Regarding Tinubu in South Africa

• Aisha Yesufu’s criticisms of President Tinubu sparked a social media debate, drawing a robust response from the presidency
• Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga criticized Yesufu for rushing to judgment and displaying consistent negativity towards Tinubu on Twitter

Aisha Yesufu’s recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu have ignited a heated exchange on social media, prompting a robust response from the presidency.

The controversy began when Yesufu alleged on Twitter that Tinubu was humiliated and overlooked by South African President Ramaphosa during an inauguration event following his re-election.

In a sharp rebuttal, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described Yesufu and her supporters as “an uncouth horde of pessimists” who remain bitter over their candidate’s third-place finish in the 2023 elections.

Onanuga accused Yesufu of rushing to judgment and consistently displaying a negative attitude towards Tinubu, contrasting her behaviour with supporters of the second-place candidate.

Similarly, O’tega Ogra, Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, joined in the criticism, accusing Yesufu of exhibiting “crass ignorance” and engaging in behaviour aimed at garnering social media approval rather than constructive engagement.

Ogra stated, “Aisha, you have the constitutionally guaranteed right to express yourself, 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. The 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. 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 inauguration on May 29, 2023…).”