- Falcons’ Victory Reward Deserved — Presidency Fires Back at Critics
- Onanuga drew a comparison between the president’s gesture and the ₦150 million prize money awarded to the winner of the Big Brother Naija
- “Let’s be fair, Tinubu’s gesture to the Super Falcons deserves applause. Some presidents ignore sports achievements entirely.”
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has defended the national honours and financial gifts awarded by President Bola Tinubu to the Super Falcons following their triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga criticised those who claimed the rewards were either excessive or insufficient. He drew a comparison between the president’s gesture and the ₦150 million prize money awarded to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.
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“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” he wrote.
According to Onanuga, the president has recognised excellence, creativity, hard work, football artistry, and the resilient Nigerian spirit.
His statement came just hours after President Tinubu hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During the ceremony, each player and coaching crew member was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
President Tinubu also announced a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the technical crew. Additionally, he promised each team member a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate located in the Federal Capital Territory.
Onanuga’s comparison between the Falcons’ rewards and BBNaija’s prize sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating the appropriateness of the gesture and the analogy.
Another, @Bolanle_Juwon, , questioned the use of foreign currency, “Why dollars and not the equivalent in naira? The Nigerian government should, as a matter of urgency, do away with the line of promoting another nation’s currency.”
@Ezekwem_Franklin offered a broader critique, stating, “I’m not against the gift, but that amount is too much for a country whose citizens are living in abject poverty, infrastructural decay, and insecurity. This wasn’t thoughtful from President Tinubu; it’s not a good way to buy favour.”
However, some users welcomed the President’s gesture to the team.
@Ghali_Ismael praised the move, saying, “Alhamdulillah Rabil Aalameen for HIS blessings upon us at all times and places. To say the least, I am very impressed with the way Mr. President rewarded the team. Congratulations once again.”
Similarly, @Official_dharmy argued that the comparison to BBNaija was misplaced, noting, “BBNaija is private money. Falcons played for the country. It’s not the same. The comparison doesn’t work.”
Meanwhile, @IAm_Emma_Eze expressed support for the recognition, tweeting, “Let’s be fair, Tinubu’s gesture to the Super Falcons deserves applause. Some presidents ignore sports achievements entirely.”
And @NenyeVibes added, “BBNaija gets private funding. Falcons represent national pride. Both deserve rewards, but one shouldn’t be used to justify the other.”
