By Brian Moore
Reports of an alleged attempt to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by a member of his kitchen staff sparked widespread reactions across social media and some online publications over the weekend. According to the reports, the unnamed staff member said to have been arrested after suspicious substances were allegedly discovered in food meant for the President. The story, which quickly went viral, claimed heightened security within the Presidential Villa and suggested an internal investigation was underway.
However, the Presidency swiftly dismissed the report as false and mischievous. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegation as “baseless” and “a fabrication designed to cause panic and undermine the government,” insisting that there was no poisoning attempt and no breach within the President’s kitchen staff. He urged the public to disregard what he termed “irresponsible speculation,” maintaining that the President was in good health and fully engaged in state duties.
The development has drawn comparisons with the alleged coup plot that went viral months ago, which the government initially downplayed before later confirming that certain military officers were under investigation for alleged involvement in a coup conspiracy. At the time, authorities had first described the reports as unfounded, only to subsequently announce arrests and ongoing probes, creating confusion among citizens who struggled to reconcile the earlier denial with later official disclosures.
Even now, investigations are said to be continuing in connection with the earlier coup allegations, with reports indicating that some civilians, including staff linked to construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., are being questioned over their alleged roles. While the government had earlier debunked the coup narrative, subsequent acknowledgements of arrests and investigations appeared to contradict the initial position, fuelling further public debate about transparency and consistency in official communication.
Analysts say the recurring pattern of swift denials followed by partial confirmations in sensitive matters has deepened a growing trust deficit between the government and the governed. They argue that inconsistent messaging, whether on an alleged poisoning plot or a purported coup attempt, risks eroding public confidence at a time when clarity and openness are most needed, reinforcing concerns that the full truth is often slow to emerge.