A combined photo of President BolaTinubu and a page from The Guardian
By Jimmy Enyeh
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has debunked the insinuations making the rounds that President Tinubu who recently celebrated his 72nd birthday is 78 years, going by a report credited to The Guardian of October 16 1998, wherein the reporter claimed the president who just returned from self-exile was 52.
Those marshaling this argument stated that since Tinubu was 52 according to the Guardian report in 1998 when he returned from exile 26 years ago, he ought to have celebrated 78th birthday and not 72.
While responding to an inquiry by NATIONAL WAVES, Mr. Onanuga said the reporter erred by reporting that the president was 52 in his report
Mr Onanuga in his response wrote “Tinubu was sworn in as governor of Lagos on 29 May 1999. He was 47 years old. The Guardian reporter made an error. We have corrected this error countless times with Tinubu’s official records. I am surprised you are still beating this dead horse, which we believe was buried in the last campaign”
It would be recalled that the President opted for a low key 72nd birthday celebrations on account of the challenging times in the country.
The President who turned 72 last Friday urged his associates not to organise any events but instead use the opportunity to reflect and re-dedicate themselves to the task of building.
The President, in a statement on Sunday by Mr. Onanuga, noted that the recent killings of some Army and police personnel in Delta State as well as several security breaches as events that have contributed to the gloomy mood of the nation.
