Ibe said the comparison to the N150 million prize for the winner of BBNaija was misplaced.
Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lashed out at the presidency for comparing N150 million prize for the winner of BBNaija to the $100,000 each gifted the Super Falcons.
The money was given to them following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, in Morocco.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, had questioned why some Nigerians were unappreciative of President Bola Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons.
The presidential spokesman expressed surprise at the criticism from some Nigerians over the presidential rewards, questioning why the gesture was being met with disapproval.
Onanuga in a post on his X handle on Tuesday drew a comparison with the BBNaija reality show, pointing out that its winner receives a N150 million grand prize.
However, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Ibe explained that Multichoice, owner of BBNaija, was spending private money generated from its business operations.
He wrote: “Dear @aonanuga1956, I believe that the Super Falcons and indeed any other team or individuals who have made Nigeria proud deserve to be rewarded. That’s a no-brainer.
“However, the comparison to Multichoice paying N150 million to winners of BBNaija is misplaced. Multichoice is spending private money generated from its business operations while Tinubu is spending from our commonwealth. Even the fish that lives inside of bodies of water does not consume water with reckless abandon.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu offered each player a cash reward of $100,000 and each coach and support staff member $50,000.
Tinubu also conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, on all 24 players and 11 technical crew members.
Additionally, each member of the team will receive a three-bedroom apartment under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.