According to Vanguard reporting on January 7, 2026, the Presidency defended President Bola Tinubu after opposition leader Atiku Abubakar criticized photographs of the President dining in Paris, framing the images as a symbol of misplaced priorities.
Presidential aides described the criticism as tone‑deaf and said the President remains engaged with national issues, adding that online claims alleging the photos were AI‑generated or manipulated are unconvincing.
Premium Times and Channels TV also covered the dispute, reporting on the Presidency’s explanation of the photo quality and continued opposition claims that the images were selectively edited amid insecurity concerns.
Echotitbits take: In a high‑inflation environment, luxury imagery carries political costs. The administration may be better served shifting from image defense to clearer, measurable messaging on how policies are improving everyday living conditions.
Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/nigeria-burns-while-presidency-defends-lunch-photos-in-paris-atiku/ 2026-01-07
Photo Credit: Vanguard
