Sophia Michaels
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, elucidated the reason behind Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s gesture of bowing to greet Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Dantata is a billionaire businessman and uncle to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.
President Tinubu, during a meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, was seen in one of the pictures bowing while having a handshake with the elder statesman.
In an effort to diffuse the reaction the action had generated, Onanuga, took to his X account to described Tinubu’s action as a demonstration of his “trademark respect” for the 93-year-old patriarch of the famous Alhassan Dantata family from Kano State.
Sharing two photographs of the President Bola Tinubu with Dantata after the meeting were made public, wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu showed trademark respect to Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, Chairman of Dantata Group of Companies when the latter visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.
“Dantata, 93 on 19 May, is the patriarch of the Alhassan Dantata family in Kano.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu showed trademark respect to Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, Chairman of Dantata Group of Companies, when the latter visited him in Abuja on Tuesday. Dantata, 93 on 19 May, is the patriarch of the Alhassan Dantata family in Kano pic.twitter.com/w5e6POtH91
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) May 21, 2024
Meanwhile there are mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some said the President would do anything to win the heart of the North, others commended him for that show of respect despite being president.
@JakesOlasupo wrote: “He will do anything for the Northern votes.”
@twuyi68 wrote: “Yoruba are the most cultured tribe in the world. Imagine number one citizen of Nigeria PBAT greeting an elderly man with full respect.
“God Bless our President”
