$100k Bonus: Atiku drags Tinubu in fresh battle

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp has tackled President Bola Tinubu for defending his administration’s gift to champion, the Super Falcons, who recently won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The Nigerian team defeated the host country in the final of the competition and won the championship for the 10th time.

President Tinubu not only congratulated the team but gifted them a naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the team members, three-bedroom apartments and conferred the national honour on them.

Nigerians criticise Tinubu’s gift to Super Falcons

Some Nigerians have taken to the social media to criticise the president for the cash and gifts given to the Nigerian team. In defence, Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to President Tinubu on information and strategy, compared to gifts to the prize of the 2025 Big Brother Naija, N150 million.

Onanuga said that Nigerians should be appreciative for Tinubu’s gesture to the Super Falcons, considering what the TV reality show is offering to its winners. He added that “President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit.”

However, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, knocked the presidency for the comparison, adding that the Super Falcons and every other person that has made the country proud deserves reward, but insisted that the comparison with the BBNaija’s N150 million prize is a misplaced.

BBNaija: Paul Ibe knocks presidency

Ibe noted that the BBNaija show is sponsored by private company, while what Tinubu shared with the Super Falcons was “from our commonwealth.

He added that “Even the fish that lives inside of bodies of water does not consume water with reckless abandon.”

The banter between the presidency and Atiku’s camp has started generating reactions from some Nigerians.

Below are some of their reactions: Ben Ameh wrote:

“You claim Tinubu is spending our commonwealth. Yet under your party’s nose for 16 years, billions were looted, subsidies vanished into thin air, and public projects were abandoned midstream with no consequences. So please spare us the sudden righteousness.”