Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has refuted claims that the President is indifferent to the struggles of Nigerians, following criticism circulating on social media.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Onanuga emphasized that Tinubu is aware of the challenges facing Nigerians and is committed to improving their lives.
He also addressed a recent social media nickname, “T-pain,” attributed to Tinubu, which Onanuga called “mischievous.”
He clarified that Tinubu’s intentions are not to worsen conditions for Nigerians but to “repair the economy.”
He said, “The President is aware that the citizens are going through some difficulties” but said Tinubu is not aware that some persons have labelled him T-pain on social media as “the President does not read what is on the social media”.
Onanuga said, “Some people have also responded and called the President a different name. So, as far as I am concerned, it is a non-issue.
“Some people out of mischief just say somebody is a T-pain, He (Tinubu) is not T-pain.
“The President has never shied away from telling Nigerians that he feels their pain and he is working very hard to make sure that he gives them some relief so that things will get better and this country will get more prosperity.”
He said despite galloping inflation, “we are experiencing economic growth, despite inflation, revenues have increased”.
Also, Bayo Onanuga said contrary to popular opinion, his principal, President Bola Tinubu, did not acquire a new official jet but a refurbished one.
“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane, it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property,” Onanuga said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-economic programme aired on Channels Television.
He said some jets in the presidential fleet like a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo are all in bad condition, and their maintenance costs were outrageous. Hence, instead of spending a bogus amount of money on aircraft maintenance, the President sought the approval of the National Assembly for a refurbished jet still in good condition.
Onanuga said the refurbished Airbus A330 would save Nigeria high maintenance costs in servicing the old aircraft
Onanuga also urged Nigerians to prioritise the President’s safety, noting that the newly acquired plane is Nigeria’s property, not Tinubu’s.
The presidential spokesman said Tinubu won’t take the just-acquired jet with him when he leaves office. Onanuga said the jet would also benefit Tinubu’s successor.
Onanuga said, “The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.
“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago.
“There was a time the President went to Saudi Arabia, that plane developed some problems and the President had to leave with a chartered jet to The Netherlands.”
The presidential spokesman said he spoke with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane and he said the maintenance costs because of the age of the plane were exorbitant hence the need for another plane.
“People should try to prioritise the safety of the president. I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said.
While the Presidency has continued to defend Tinubu’s action to purchase the refurbished Airbus A330, the move has been criticised by many Nigerians and some of his contenders in the 2023 election, who felt the President was unfeeling to the plight of poor Nigerians grappling under the weight of unprecedented food inflation, and energy prices which have quadrupled in the last one year.
The health state of the Presidential Air Fleet has been a source of concern of late. In May, a faulty presidential jet stopped Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
Last December, a presidential aircraft, Falcon 900B, was put up for sale, with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) asking interested persons to submit their bids for the purchase of the aircraft.
Onanuga also says with the recent cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu, suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Betta Edu, has officially been relieved of her ministerial assignment.
”Betta Edu is gone,” Onanuga declared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“She was suspended in January and this is October. She is gone, officially. Her position has been taken over by the Plateau man.
“As far as this government is concerned, there is no more place for her in this cabinet,” the presidential spokesman said, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might have submitted some information that justified her dismissal.
To replace Edu, Tinubu on Thursday appointed Plateau-born Nentawe Yilwatda, a lecturer with the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. The President has written the Senate to confirm the appointment of Yilwatda and six others.
”Betta Edu is gone. Her position has been taken by someone from Plateau State…As far as this government is concerned, there is no place for her in this cabinet..”
Tinubu appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, about three months after he was inaugurated as Nigeria’s president. He appointed Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State, Oil; and appointed Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas, but retained the senior petroleum minister role just like his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
The post Tinubu, Not T-Pain, Feels Nigerians’ Pain – Onanuga Says Calling Tinubu ‘T-Pain’ Is Mischievous appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
(Last Updated On: )