Tinubu’s Age Controversy: Omokri Challenges Allegation With 1996 Photo

Tinubu’s Age Controversy: Omokri Challenges Allegation With 1996 Photo

Former presidential aide and Ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, has challenged allegations concerning the age of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging Nigerians to critically examine a photograph purportedly taken in London in 1996 showing Tinubu alongside journalist and publisher Dele Momodu.

Omokri, in a statement, said the photograph had not been altered and was taken 30 years ago, asking Nigerians to assess whether Tinubu, as depicted in the picture, appeared to be 60 years old at the time.

He argued that if the allegation that Tinubu is currently 90 years old were correct, the President would have been 60 when the photograph was taken in 1996.

“Does His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, look like a sixty-year-old in this photo?” Omokri asked.

He further challenged Nigerians to examine the image and determine whether the man identified as Tinubu even appeared to be 50 at the time.

Omokri also referenced the late Fuji musician, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, in his argument. He noted that Barrister, who was born on February 9, 1948, reportedly referred to Tinubu as his “Aburo”, a Yoruba expression meaning younger brother, in one of his songs.

According to Omokri, Tinubu and Momodu were both seen dancing to the song, adding that Barrister, if he were alive today, would have been 78 years old.

The ambassador-designate also appealed to Momodu, whom he described as a former friend and beneficiary of Tinubu’s goodwill during the period of military rule under the late General Sani Abacha.

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Omokri said Momodu had previously acknowledged that Tinubu supported him while he was in exile from the Abacha regime.

He maintained that although Momodu was entitled to support any political candidate of his choice, he should not remain silent while allegations were being made about the President’s age and health.

“Mr Momodu is free to support whichever candidate he chooses. But will it be morally acceptable for Dele Momodu to watch idly by as a man who was once his benefactor, and who he once referred to as his friend, is being accused of being a nonagenarian suffering from ill health?” he asked.

Omokri urged politicians and their supporters to focus the 2027 political debate on issues affecting Nigerians rather than what he described as attempts to “age-shame” political opponents.

He called for a higher standard of political discourse, saying the forthcoming election should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to debate ideas and solutions to the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.

“Perhaps we can raise the bar for this election by raising issues germane to the Nigerian people and brainstorming ideas to resolve the challenges plaguing our polity,” he said.

Omokri added that attaching ages to political figures without credible evidence would only diminish the quality of political debate in the country.

“To age-shame people with ages that are not even theirs is to reduce the discussion about who governs Nigeria to an unbecoming level,” he said.

The statement was signed by Omokri in his capacity as Ambassador-designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

 

Tinubu’s Age Controversy: Omokri Challenges Allegation With 1996 Photo