Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, has come under criticism after old tweets resurfaced shortly after he argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC), while in opposition, never celebrated the misfortunes of Nigerians or political opponents.
In a recent post, Dada stated: “Never in our time in opposition did we celebrate gleefully and shamelessly the misfortunes of those who don’t agree with us.”
He made the remark while criticizing social media users he accused of downplaying security successes and showing little empathy for victims. However, critics quickly unearthed tweets he made during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan following the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.
In the resurfaced posts, Dada accused Jonathan’s administration of failing the Chibok girls and their families, writing: “My heart goes out to the Chibok Girls and their parents. Nigeria has failed you. Your government has failed you. I am sorry.”
He also criticized Jonathan for not visiting Chibok after the abduction, posting: “The president refused to visit Chibok till date. He refused to even see the parents of the kidnapped girls until Malala came.”
In another post, Dada linked the tragedy to Jonathan’s re-election bid, stating: “GEJ unlooked the kidnap of the Chibok girls for 18 days. This is a man seeking reelection. Imagine what happens when he has nothing to lose.”
The resurfacing of the tweets prompted accusations of double standards, with critics arguing that Dada’s comments during the Jonathan administration contradict his recent claim that the APC did not use national tragedies as political ammunition while in opposition.
The debate has also drawn comparisons with the current administration’s response to recent kidnappings, including the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
While President Tinubu did not personally visit the affected community, the presidency dispatched a high-powered delegation to engage with stakeholders and oversee response efforts.
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