Drama as Atiku Drags Tinubu as Presidency Compares Gifts to Super Falcons With BBNaija Prize
- Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, has tackled President Bola Tinubu's administration over his gift for the Super Falcons of Nigeria
- President Tinubu had granted national honours to the Super Falcons players, $100,000 to each of the team members, and three-bedroom apartments for each, which have gotten Nigerians talking
- However, the presidency defended the gesture by citing the BBNaija's N150 million prize and urged Nigerians to be appreciative but the defence did not go down well with Atiku's camp
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's camp has tackled President Bola Tinubu for defending his administration's gift to champion, the Super Falcons, who recently won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian team defeated the host country in the final of the competition and won the championship for the 10th time. President Tinubu not only congratulated the team but gifted them a naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the team members, three-bedroom apartments and conferred the national honour on them.
Source: Twitter
Nigerians criticise Tinubu's gift to Super Falcons
Some Nigerians have taken to the social media to criticise the president for the cash and gifts given to the Nigerian team. In defence, Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to President Tinubu on information and strategy, compared to gifts to the prize of the 2025 Big Brother Naija, N150 million.
Onanuga said that Nigerians should be appreciative for Tinubu's gesture to the Super Falcons, considering what the TV reality show is offering to its winners. He added that "President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit."
However, Atiku's media aide, Paul Ibe, knocked the presidency for the comparison, adding that the Super Falcons and every other person that has made the country proud deserves reward, but insisted that the comparison with the BBNaija's N150 million prize is a misplaced.
BBNaija: Paul Ibe knocks presidency
Ibe noted that the BBNaija show is sponsored by private company, while what Tinubu shared with the Super Falcons was "from our commonwealth. He added that "Even the fish that lives inside of bodies of water does not consume water with reckless abandon."
The banter between the presidency and Atiku's camp has started generating reactions from some Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:
Ben Ameh wrote:
"You claim Tinubu is spending our commonwealth. Yet under your party's nose for 16 years, billions were looted, subsidies vanished into thin air, and public projects were abandoned midstream with no consequences. So please spare us the sudden righteousness."
Source: Twitter
Enitan commented:
"Shame on you,after mortgaging the fortune of future generations, when a society built in equity and justice should have been the priority,rather looting of public resources was the only thing you guys could offer. Now we can't reward people who won trophy for 10yrs in a row."
Adeye Isaac Adebowale reacted:
"Go to court. If your daughter is among them tell her to refund the money. Your principal has spent more than on election."
Uduak Idio said:
"You can't be supporting Atiku and not sound this way. Very pathetic!"
Hammed tweeted:
"Your political rhetorics won't grant your Oga access to the villa in 2027."
See the tweet here:
PDP-BoT member defects to Atiku's coalition
Legit.ng earlier reported that prominent PDP-BoT member, Adamu Waziri, has announced his resignation from the leading opposition party and joined the APC.
Waziri said his decision was due to the fact that the current PDP leadership has lost its way and that he has to move on.
The former PDP chieftain then called on his supporters to join him in his coalition movement, a group being championed by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Source: Legit.ng
