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“Tinubu Stabbed His Supporters in the Back With Ridiculous Appointments” – Onokpasa
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Jesutega Onokpasa, has expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of betraying his loyal supporters through questionable appointments that he described as absurd and insulting.
During an appearance on Arise News’ morning show on Thursday, Onokpasa openly criticized the recent appointment of Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President.
Bwala, formerly an aide to Atiku Abubakar, has been a vocal critic of Tinubu, even making controversial statements against him during the election campaign.
Onokpasa’s remarks add to the growing backlash the president has faced over this decision.
Many of Tinubu’s supporters feel sidelined, arguing that the appointment of Bwala, who was once aligned with the opposition and allegedly made disparaging remarks about Tinubu, sends a discouraging message to those who stood by him.
Speaking passionately, Onokpasa rejected the narrative that the appointment was a strategic move.
“Our dear and beloved president has betrayed his staunch supporters with these absolutely ridiculous, inexplicable appointments,” he said.
“I am a Tinubu supporter, not a sycophant. His apologists are calling Bwala’s appointment a strategy, but to me, it is pure stupidity.”
Onokpasa, who also serves as the chairman of the Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG), expressed frustration over what he saw as a lack of loyalty to those who defended the president during critical moments.
He pointed out that Bwala had once labeled Tinubu a “drug dealer” without providing any evidence, yet he was rewarded with a position of influence.
“How do you appoint someone who publicly called you a drug dealer? Daniel Bwala is a lawyer. He had no evidence for such accusations, yet he was given this role.
This is the same person who called the president a drug baron, and now he’s been welcomed into the fold. It feels like a slap in the face for those of us who stood by him,” Onokpasa lamented.
He further criticized Bayo Onanuga, a prominent Tinubu ally, for defending the decision. “Bayo Onanuga tries to rationalize this, but it’s insulting.
We were out there defending the president when Bwala and others were attacking him.
Now, the same person who tried to tarnish his image gets an appointment, while those of us who believed in him are left in the cold,” he said.
Onokpasa’s anger wasn’t just about the appointments but also about the perceived disregard for loyal supporters.
“It’s not about wanting an appointment. Many of us don’t need that. It’s about the insult. It’s about the president taking us for granted.
We defended him because we believed in him, not because we were seeking favors. For me, this is personal.
I admired him like a family member, and now it feels like he has humiliated us. I don’t trust him anymore.”
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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