Shaibu Says Tinubu is Out of Touch as Villa Gets a Fresh Coat of Paint

WHO:

Vanguard News - Phrank Shaibu is the Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

Vanguard News - Shaibu criticized President Bola Tinubu during an interview on ARISE News.

Vanguard News - Shaibu referred to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which governed Nigeria for eight years under Muhammadu Buhari before handing over power in 2023.

Punch Newspapers - President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima attended a forum organized by the City Boy Movement and the Relax-Tinubu-Is-Fixing-Nigeria movement.

Punch Newspapers - The forum’s organizer was Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

Punch Newspapers - Tinubu publicly praised Seyi’s work with young people and told him, “Do more, not less. Serve harder.”

WHAT:

Vanguard News - Shaibu accused Tinubu of being disconnected from Nigerians’ economic hardship, saying, “He’s not even aware that he’s president.”

Vanguard News - Shaibu criticized Tinubu for blaming the opposition for hunger and called that explanation “delusional.”

Vanguard News - Shaibu said petrol subsidy removal was followed by sharp increases in the cost of goods and services, and claimed Nigerians could not afford “three square meals.”

Vanguard News - Shaibu alleged higher university fees had forced some students out of school, despite the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Punch Newspapers - Workers peeled, re-plastered and repainted arches of the State House administrative wing; some offices were cleaned and fumigated.

Punch Newspapers - Budget documents allocated at least N53.58 billion for maintenance of the State House Headquarters.

Punch Newspapers - The 2026 Appropriation Act allocated N4.23 billion for annual routine maintenance, N3.84 billion for annual maintenance, and N8.35 billion for Julius Berger and other liabilities dating back to 2022, including water charges, electricity bills and waste disposal.

Punch Newspapers - In 2025, specified maintenance line items totaled N23.46 billion, while N35.36 billion was allocated separately to rehabilitating and repairing office buildings.

WHERE:

Vanguard News - Shaibu made his remarks in an interview on ARISE News.

Punch Newspapers - The forum was held at the State House Conference Centre; painting work was observed at the State House Villa, including the administrative wing near the Presidential Banquet Hall.

Punch Newspapers - Seyi’s colloquium was held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.

WHEN:

Vanguard News - Shaibu said Tinubu had been in office for three and a half years and referred to his assumption of office on May 29, 2023.

Punch Newspapers - Seyi’s colloquium took place on October 12; the article does not specify its year.

Punch Newspapers - The article says the last Villa makeover of comparable scale took place in May 2023, ahead of Tinubu’s inauguration.

WHY:

Vanguard News - Shaibu said Tinubu should be accountable for his administration’s economic policies rather than blame political opponents.

Punch Newspapers - An official described the painting and related work as routine maintenance; a senior official said the Villa’s walls had needed repainting because of stains from monkeys and bat droppings.

HOW:

Punch Newspapers - Workers accessed and painted the Villa’s upper arches using scaffolds.

Punch Newspapers - Routine-maintenance allocation fell 54 percent from N9.2 billion to N4.23 billion.

(UPDATED October 25, 2026 16:05 UTC)

An opposition campaign official has accused President Bola Tinubu of being disconnected from Nigerians’ economic hardship. Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress campaign council’s strategic communications director, told ARISE News that Tinubu should take responsibility for economic policies instead of blaming the opposition for hunger. Shaibu called that explanation “delusional” and said rising prices after petrol subsidy removal had left many unable to afford three meals a day. He also alleged higher university fees had pushed some students out of school, despite the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Separately, workers have been repainting and repairing State House arches, which officials described as routine maintenance. Budget documents allocate at least 53.58 billion naira for State House headquarters upkeep, including 4.23 billion for annual routine maintenance. At a Lagos colloquium, Tinubu praised his son Seyi’s work with young people and urged him to serve harder.