Appointments: “Your Media Army Can’t Save Your Drowning Reputation” Atiku’s Aide Tells Tinubu

In a scathing critique, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has lambasted President Bola Tinubu’s recent expansion of his media team, stating that no amount of media aides can salvage the sinking reputation of the President.

Shaibu’s comments came in response to President Tinubu’s decision to appoint five additional media aides and establish a new directorate on Monday. Shaibu described these moves as a sign of desperation on the President’s part to rescue his “scandalous reputation.”

In his statement, Shaibu said, “Not even a thousand media aides can save the reputation of President Bola Tinubu, which is currently drowning in scandals.”

The newly appointed media aides include Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice), Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement), Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications), Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs), and Mr. Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties).

Shaibu pointed out that these appointments confirmed his earlier statement from September 18, where he had predicted that the Tinubu government would establish a propaganda unit. He remarked, “Now they have established a media and publicity directorate. This brings to 20 the number of media advisers appointed by Tinubu.”

He continued, “For a government that claims to be focused on fiscal discipline, it has appointed the largest number of non-statutory appointments. Isn’t it ironic that Tinubu has more media advisers than economic aides? It is obvious that he plans to use propaganda to rule.”

Shaibu emphasized that no amount of propaganda could conceal the challenges facing the government, including allegations of certificate forgery and potential revelations from an FBI investigation regarding a heroin case in the United States.

He concluded, “Tinubu and his lackeys must, however, understand that no matter the air freshener you use in spraying excreta, the stench can never go away. No amount of image laundering can save his sinking image.”

This move has pushed Tinubu’s count of media aides to over 20, a record in Nigerian history, raising questions about the government’s priorities and its ability to address critical issues facing the nation.