Former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye has mocked President Bola Tinubu after the president described himself as a governor during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council on Wednesday.
Key takeaways
- Melaye said Tinubu’s reference to himself as governor showed the situation was worse than he had realised.
- The former lawmaker posted his reaction on his verified X account.
- He jokingly portrayed Tinubu as seeking a second term as governor rather than serving as Nigeria’s president.
- Social-media users offered conflicting interpretations, ranging from calls for Tinubu to retire to claims that the remark was a campaign tactic.
Melaye reacts to president’s remark
Tinubu’s self-description as a governor during Wednesday’s event triggered public discussion, prompting Melaye to issue a sarcastic response online.
“Na wa oooo. I no know say the thing bad like this. Not former Governor Bola Tinubu, not President Bola Tinubu. Governor Bola Tinubu back for 2nd term,” Melaye wrote.
The comment referred to Tinubu’s previous role as governor of Lagos State and suggested, in jest, that he had reverted to that office rather than being recognised as a former governor or the current president.
Online reactions
Replies to Melaye’s post included criticism of the president as well as a defence of his political approach.
- @Nzemeka4 asked: “Is there anything wrong for this old man to go back home and enjoy his old age?”
- #FrancisEyo9 said the episode was part of a campaign method, arguing that Tinubu employed a similar approach in 2023 and that many people had initially taken it literally.
- @Sainsain wrote: “Nigerians don enter One chance.”
A video of Tinubu’s remarks was also circulated alongside the online debate.
