A tweet by activist and political commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has pitched Nigerians against one another as they react to a video in the tweet. The video has the imprint of WNTV.
Mahdi had taken to his verified X handle @shehu_mahdi on Wednesday [today] evening with a tweet he titled ‘TINUBU DISGRACED IN SOUTH AFRICA,’ accompanied with this statement: “After spending millions of dollars to travel to South Africa for presidential swearing in cerimony [sic], Tinubu was consigned to the back row, ignored in the protocol of handshake, and was left in cold blooded SHOCK. A case of insult and defeat at Away matches and despised at home.”
It may be recalled that President had flown to South Africa on Tuesday to attend the swearing in ceremony of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa for second term.
According to the trending video showing Tinubu among other leaders at the meet-and-greet lineup, Ramaphosa is seen exchanging handshakes with virtually everyone as President Tinubu seems to await his turn.
After greeting those in the front row, Ramaphosa, with his 71-yea-old wife by his side, also had a handshake with someone standing very close to Tinubu, yet the South African President seems oblivious of his Nigerian counterpart as he gently steers away his wife wile Tinubu is left grinning.
See the video:
Nigerians have since drawn individual inferences from the video. See Nigerians’ reactions to the video:
I beg to differ on President Tinubu’s outing in S’Africa.
It is also important, we all recognize Mr President wasn’t in South Africa for personal tea party.
He represents 200mill Nigerians.
We have to assume President Cyril must have been overworked or rather it was camera tricks— Godwin ROBINSON (@OdogwuGNR) June 19, 2024
This so disrepectful. In a normal country we should be angry but no we are exhausted.
— Baban Baba (@ELMustaphaJ) June 19, 2024
This is very disgraceful to our nation what is South Africa doing for us in this continent we can’t accept such disrespect to our nation
— Abdussamad badamasi (@BadamasiDattijo) June 19, 2024
South Africa went against diplomatic protocol. It is direspectul to Nigeria and Nigerians whether we like it or not.Cyril Ramaphosa should know better.Need we remind him how Nigeria received him with open arms in 2021 during Covid Pandemic when his other allies treated him badly?
— aisha abdellah (@aishaabdellah) June 19, 2024
If at all there was a disgrace it is upon all Nigerians who were represented by the President including you @shehu_mahdi. So stop personalising it. For once be Rational and Patriotic.
— Sadeeq Abdul (@outlawz00) June 19, 2024
To some people, it is fake news:
At your Age, you should not be posting fake news. Your grandchildren will not be proud of this act.
— Bammy Tim (@tanimolaolawal1) June 19, 2024
But where did you get this video from? I think mischief makers are at it, I saw this same video and the South Africa president clearly shock hands with Nigeria president. I sincerely don’t know how you guys got this video
— tajuomot90 (@tajuomot90) June 19, 2024
I don’t want to believe what is been presented publicly because there are some other videos portraying a warm handshake from @CyrilRamaphosa to @officialABAT in that inauguration. Please I believe fact checking issues remains the best. Let NIGERIA succeed.
— ONYELE EBUKA POLYCARP (@BUKATEE4617191) June 19, 2024
Nationalists call for public opprobrium against South Africa:
The S. African authority responsible for the organization of this event owes Nigerians an explanation & an apology for this insult.
It has never been this bad for a Nigerian president to be over looked in gathering of committee of nations.
Even Tinubu lost his confidence.— C.C. Goodwill (coren) (@CCGoodwill1) June 19, 2024
And the defenders:
Imagine an elderly man talking about rubbish. So you mean because the president didnt shake him that means he’s not recognized or he’s no body. Please malam get small sense this kind of tweet not for someone like you please
— Kamal Dansadau (@Princedansadauk) June 19, 2024
If what we saw is true, South Africa should tender apology to us. They called us Generator country during the world cup fiesta. They have forgotten the role Nigeria played during the apartheid era.
— Lazarus Alizor (@LazarusAlizor) June 19, 2024
Meanwhile, the Presidency has swiftly denounced the video and those suspected to be behind it. See the Presidency’s reaction through Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu: “Aisha and her uncouth horde of pessimists are always quick to rush to judgment with any whiff of what appears to them to be negative to the leader of Africa’s biggest democracy.
“More than a year after the 2023 election, in which their candidate came third, they remain incurably bitter and toxic, more than the supporters of the man who came second.”
