Following a presidential candidate’s unusual media appearance on Monday at the UK-based think tank Chatham House, many Nigerians are feeling angry and disappointed.
In order to escape the Nigerian media after accepting the party’s nomination, Bola Tinubu, a two-term governor of Lagos state who is running for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February elections, has appointed a retinue of spokespeople to speak on his behalf.
In the run-up to the elections, he also avoided town hall meetings with rival candidates and presidential debates.
Because of this, many people who tuned in to the much-publicized event in London had great expectations to hear Mr. Tinubu respond to important policy matters.
How would he handle Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity? How would he reduce the high unemployment rate in the nation? How would he put an end to Niger Delta oil theft?
Thankfully, journalists within the crowded hall addressed these questions, but many were taken aback when Mr. Tinubu chose advisers to speak on his behalf—a departure from the norm at the institute that is well-liked by Nigerians looking to run for public office.
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate’s spokesman called it “an abdication of responsibility,” but many others said it proved Mr. Tinubu lacked the physical and mental stamina necessary to govern the most populous nation in Africa.
Nevertheless, Dele Alake, his media advisor, who spoke for him when answering a question at the event, claimed that individuals who were critical of Mr. Tinubu “are uninformed of the complexity and dynamics of leadership.”
He said, “He wants to demonstrate the caliber of his team.”
The APC candidate did answer some questions, however, and for the first time in front of the public, he addressed the debates around his age and employment history.
He stated that he was born in March 1952, confirming the age that had previously been widely rumored.
Additionally, he claimed that he attended Chicago State University for his education and then worked for the financial consulting firm Deloitte, both of which have been hotly contested in the past.
One of the top three candidates for president of Nigeria in 2019 is Mr. Tinubu.
You can watch Mr Tiunbu’s appearance at Chatham House here:
