The Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Communications, Phrank Shaibu, has described the iconic symbol on President Bola Tinubu’s cap design as a sign of oppression.
Speaking in a statement on Monday titled ‘De-cap-itated!’, Shaibu said one year after assuming the presidency, Tinubu has failed not only Nigerians, but also his supporters.
Speaking against the backdrop of the claim by Tinubu in the build-up to the 2023 election that the design on his cap is “a broken shackle,” Shaibu said the President has so far failed to break the shackle of poverty.
“We are breaking the shackles of poverty and destitution,” Tinubu had said during a campaign event in 2022.
However, Shaibu, in his statement, said the cap, which used to be a sought-after item, has become a burden to merchants who sell it and a relic of embarrassment for Tinubu’s supporters.
He added that many have been left disappointed by the Tinubu administration.
“During the campaign, these caps symbolised Tinubu’s promise to protect human rights, boost the economy, and replicate Lagos’s success across Nigeria,” the aide said.
“The once-eager vendors who proudly displayed the Emilokan caps at bustling traffic lights and strategic street corners now find themselves burdened by them.
“What was once a prized symbol of political fervour has become an unwanted relic, gathering dust as no one bothers to ask for them anymore.
“The caps, once seen as a beacon of hope and power, have now turned into silent reminders of promises unfulfilled, leaving these sellers with a product that has lost its allure and meaning.
“Once a sought-after item, the caps have become an embarrassing relic for many of Tinubu’s supporters, representing broken promises and a political regime that has shifted towards authoritarianism.
“The disappointment with Tinubu’s administration extends beyond the political sphere,” Shaibu submitted.
