Just Mention Seyi Tinubu, You’ll Go Viral
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There’s a new shortcut to instant popularity in Naija. Just add Seyi Tinubu’s name to any wild claim and boom, you’re headline gold. No need for facts, proof, or even a hint of evidence.
And the biggest cheerleader of this incredibly banal fancy? None other than former Vice President and serial presidential bridesmaid, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.
This elder statesman, whom you’d expect to have mastered discretion, either because of the high office he once held or the many scandals he has weathered, from the William Jefferson saga to the Intels affair and the detention and corruption trials of his allies and children, clearly has no chill and no filter.
Take the so-called “military parade” for example, during which Seyi inspected a group of youths in Boy Scout style uniforms in Abeokuta. Before you could say “Boy Scout,” Atiku shouted to the world that they were soldiers on parade for Seyi. He assumed the worst, even at face value, when all he had to do was take a proper look and see they were simply youth volunteers.
Then there was the funny, if not ridiculous, Elizabeth Jack-Rich drama. Scandal-monger Jackson Ude, borrowing from Atiku’s playbook, claimed that Seyi was having an affair with the wife of former presidential aspirant Tein. The family quickly dismissed it as rubbish. But Jackson and others who aimed to trend on Seyi’s name had already cashed out and gotten their clicks.
And now, the final act. Seyi is allegedly the mastermind behind the abduction of a student leader after a 100 million naira bribe was rejected. Once again, His Excellency the former vice president is leading the Twitter battalion to amplify what even the often critical socio-cultural group Afenifere has dismissed as salacious, fallacious, and utterly fabricated.
At this rate, Seyi Tinubu’s name might as well come with a “trending guaranteed” label. Forget truth. Forget proof. Even forget investigating. Just throw Seyi’s name into your story and enjoy twenty four hours of viral fame. Guaranteed.
Mike Ochuko, a social commentator, writes from Asaba mchuks1990@gmail.com
