The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has come under fire over a portrait of President Bola Tinubu that was designed by one of its officials.
The portrait, unveiled during the commissioning of the new NAF aircraft on Tuesday, was presented to Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of the president.
The controversial portrait bears resemblance to a popular photograph of late Nigerian fighter jet pilot Tolulope Arotile.
In Tolulope’s photo, she was wearing her Air Force uniform while holding her helmet in her right hand in front of an Air Force helicopter. The Tinubu portrait was made with the same template.
Arotile tragically died in a car accident on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Different suspicions surrounding the circumstances of her death still persist, with many, including her family, demanding a deeper probe.
In its preliminary report released, the NAF refuted claims of foul play, attributing the accident to a friendly mistake where another driver accidentally struck Arotile with his vehicle.
However, social media has been flooded with allegations that the Tinubu portrait by NAF is an attempt to mock Arotile’s memory while some others claim the portrait is a coded threat to those who challenge the government.
The self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, tweeted, “This is the picture of a Yoruba pilot they assassinated because she was killing Boko Haram… This is a strong message… What the picture depicts is that you will die like this girl.”
One user, identified on X as Royalty, wrote, “I never thought Tinubu could be this petty to be mocking a young military woman who died in a questionable manner given her exploits as a military air force personnel.”
Royalty added that the Nigerian Air Force has “shamelessly” made a mockery of the late pilot Tolulope by photoshopping Tinubu’s head on a caricature of what used to be her usual pose while she was alive.
“This young lady, Tolulope Arotile, went through training for years, successfully graduated, and she was killed by Nigeria. They forgot her for years, only to use Tinubu to mock her memory. Tinubu, who can’t hold a helmet,. Mocking dead heroes,” another user named “Distinguished KPMG LinkedIn Everest” wrote.
Another user named Toluwani accused the president and NAF, whom he referred to as “Tinubu’s gang,” of trying to steal this Arotile identity, adding that “we know stealing identities isn’t a new thing to Tinubu but will they allow the young lady to rest at least?”
NAF has kept mum amid the criticisms regarding the portrait.
