Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the appointment of additional media aides by President Bola Tinubu, stating that not even a thousand media aides can salvage Tinubu’s reputation, which he believes is embroiled in scandals.
His comments came in response to the establishment of a new media directorate by the Tinubu administration and the appointment of five additional aides in various media-related roles.
The new 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)
He stated that these appointments were a confirmation of his earlier statement made on September 18, where he had predicted that the Tinubu government would create a propaganda unit in response to mounting controversies.
Shaibu emphasized that despite these appointments, no amount of image laundering or propaganda can rescue Tinubu’s image, especially in the face of a certificate forgery scandal and potential revelations from the FBI regarding his legal issues in the United States.
“I warned on September 18 that the Tinubu government was getting frustrated after being exposed for their many lies and that they would set up a propaganda unit.
“Now they have established a media and publicity directorate. This brings to 20 the number of media advisers appointed by Tinubu. In fact, about three of these appointees hold the exact same portfolio.
“We understand the desperation by Tinubu’s government which is currently facing a huge certificate forgery scandal and is about to be drowned by the files that the FBI will release regarding his heroin case in the United States.
“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. No wonder he has held only one cabinet meeting in five months.”
While acknowledging the role of propaganda, Shaibu asserted that it cannot address fundamental issues such as improving infrastructure, enhancing security, or attracting foreign investment.
He pointed out that the number of media aides appointed by Tinubu is unprecedented, with over 20 media-related appointments, which he believes demonstrates a focus on using propaganda to rule rather than addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.
He said: “With the latest appointment, Tinubu now has over 20 media aides, the highest in the history of Nigeria. But propaganda can only go so far. Propaganda cannot put food on the table of the poor; it cannot make their infrastructure better; it cannot solve insecurity, and it definitely cannot bring in circumspect foreign investors.
“They can only, like the character, Squealer, in Animal Farm, succeed at increasing the quantities of food available to the community only on paper.”
The Guardian
