Nigerians knock Tinubu over red carpet reception by ex-governors at airports

Nigerians have taken to Twitter, the micro-blogging platform, to criticise President Bola Tinubu and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the endless red carpet receptions at airports. 

On July 7, Tinubu departed Nigeria for the 63rd ordinary session of the authority of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in Guinea-Bissau.

At the airport were top government officials and ex-governors, including Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff; Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano; Mohammed Badaru, former governor of Jigawa; and Abubakar Bagudu, former governor of Kebbi.

On his arrival at Aeroporto international airport in Guinea-Bissau on Saturday, Ganduje, Badaru and Bagudu, including Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, were again part of the welcome party on the tarmac.

Back in Nigeria on Monday, the president was once again received by an all-smiling cast of former governors, who had been present during his departure to Bissau.

The never-ending rollout of the red carpet, and the beeline of politicians at the airport as the president departs or returns, has got some Nigerians on social media talking.

“What is with the welcome party and line up for handshake every time the president travels and comes back? These people don’t have work to do?,” one Twitter user wrote as the president returned from Bissau.

Below are more reactions.

This Ganduje man won’t rest, always in Aso rock and receiving the president. @officialABAT please ask Ganduje to go and rest in Kano!! 😂😂

— Oscar Jnr🫶🏼👑 (@OJ_Godson7) July 10, 2023

all this ex gov should leave and go face their families for r their businesses. why the fuck all this lobbying shiit. this naija politics ehn. country no fit move forward layee

— Random thoughts, (@julietrog07) July 10, 2023

You travelled together on the same plane, you'll come down from the plane first then you line up to shake hands with the same person you took the flight together

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— Harifarta (@Harifarta1) July 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/Mal33q/status/1678596706168872961?s=20

One hopes that these former governors are not going to find their ways into the president's eagerly awaited Cabinet nominees!?

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— Emmanuel Ndiokwere (@EmmanuelNdiokw4) July 11, 2023

This Three governor are making me laugh 😂😂
They don't any other work apart from politics
Appointment hunger and they have nothing to offer us

They have been in government for many years go their state and judge them with their performance

— 𝑨𝑴𝑩. 𝑶𝑷𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑴𝑰 𝑨𝑫𝑬𝒀𝑬𝒀𝑬 (@RealOpeyeme) July 10, 2023

Pls o, all this lines up welcome, what's the meaning, someone should help me, because me no understand it.

— Ericochidex (@Ericochidex1) July 10, 2023

The way all of them use to receive him like they didn't follow him there use to make me laugh 😂😂😂😂

— Lebron of comedy (@Oscarfranklincf) July 10, 2023

I no understand why the same people wey travel with presido be the ones wey dey welcome am back at the tarmac.

— Bigek (@igebello) July 10, 2023