Dada Olusegun, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu, has criticized Nigerian media outlets for circulating a photo of the president sleeping during the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, defending that Tinubu delivered an “inspiring” speech.
According to Olusegun’s social media post, President Tinubu’s speech at the AU summit was touted as “one of the most inspiring” moments of the event. He highlighted Tinubu’s discussion points, including the proposed establishment of the African Central Bank by 2028 and emphasized the importance of unity and innovative governance approaches across Africa.
While refusing to confirm or deny whether President Tinubu nodded off during the session, Olusegun admonished the media for prioritizing the circulation of the photograph. He lamented that the focus on such images detracted from the substantive issues addressed by Tinubu at the summit, particularly those relevant to the younger generation.
The emergence of the photo, depicting Tinubu in a slumber while his aide-de-camp diligently took notes, ignited widespread reactions among Nigerians. This incident isn’t isolated, as Tinubu had been previously captured dozing off during public events, fueling concerns about his health condition and fitness for presidential leadership, particularly ahead of the 2023 elections.
Critics argue that the recurring instances of Tinubu’s apparent drowsiness raise questions about his ability to effectively govern the nation. However, supporters maintain that the focus should remain on the substance of his speeches and policies rather than on sensationalized imagery.
