Our Reporter, Abuja
Spokesperson to the former Vice President, Phrank Shaibu, has criticised the presidency for what he described as misplaced priorities following an official explanation of President Bola Tinubu’s recent lunch engagements in Paris.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President faulted the presidency for focusing on clarifying photographs and dining details at a time he said Nigerians are grappling with hunger, insecurity and economic hardship.
Shaibu said the presidency’s response, reportedly aimed at countering speculation over the authenticity of images from the President’s Paris visit, reflected “tone-deafness in power” rather than leadership.
“At a moment when Nigerians are crushed by hunger, insecurity, collapsing businesses, and a brutal cost-of-living crisis, the Presidency chose to brief the nation on who the President had lunch with and who he dined with in Paris,” he said.
He questioned the relevance of explanations about camera quality and photo editing, arguing that many Nigerians are more concerned about rising food prices and persistent security challenges, including attacks in parts of Niger State and elsewhere.
Shaibu also dismissed outrage over claims that the images may have been altered or generated by artificial intelligence, saying public skepticism was a consequence of what he described as longstanding credibility issues surrounding the government.
“When credibility is eroded, doubt follows naturally,” he said, adding that instead of addressing declining public trust, the Presidency appeared to be “lecturing Nigerians and attacking the media.”
According to him, the controversy over photographs distracted from more urgent national issues.
“Nigeria is burning. The Presidency is editing pictures,” the statement read.
Shaibu called on the Federal Government to “abandon public relations theatrics,” return focus to domestic challenges and address hunger, insecurity and economic decline with “urgency, humility, and action.”
