A cleric has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as the reputational consequences of allegations concerning the President and drugs.
In a video circulating on social media, the cleric claimed that Nigerians were facing negative perceptions abroad because of the controversy surrounding allegations about Tinubu and drug-related matters.
The remarks were shared by Arewa Source and have since circulated online.
Cleric describes alleged experience abroad
In the video, the cleric said he had personally experienced what he perceived as a change in how Nigerians were viewed in other countries.
He claimed that he was now regarded as a drug dealer whenever he travelled abroad because of the allegations associated with the President.
The claim is the cleric’s personal assertion and has not been independently established as a general measure of how Nigerians are perceived internationally.
Drug allegations involving Tinubu
The remarks appear to refer to long-running controversies surrounding allegations about Tinubu and drug-related matters.
Tinubu has consistently denied wrongdoing, while his political opponents have repeatedly raised the issue in political debates and legal proceedings.
The existence of allegations should not be treated as proof of criminal conduct, and the cleric’s claim about Nigerians’ treatment abroad is likewise not independently verified.
The latest video has nevertheless renewed discussion on the political and reputational dimensions of allegations that have circulated around Tinubu for years.
Viral claims require verification
The video is being circulated primarily through social-media channels, making it important to distinguish what the cleric personally alleges from independently established facts.
The cleric’s comments constitute his own political and social criticism and do not establish that Nigerians generally face discrimination or are regarded as drug dealers abroad.