₦airaland Forum

A public war of words occurred on X (formerly Twitter) between the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over comments on vandalism and the use of language.

The exchange, which occurred on Sunday, was triggered by a report on alleged vandalism of rehabilitation work on the Ilesha–Ibadan Expressway.

Reacting to the report, Onanuga, via his X handle @aoanuga1956, condemned the act and called for severe punishment for those involved.

“Just shoot these unconscionable vandals/thieves at sight. They are worst species of citizenships,” Onanuga wrote in a post.

Hours later, Shaibu responded through his handle, @phrankangel, faulting the statement and describing it as inappropriate for a government official.

“As a government spokesman, you cannot call for citizens to be ‘shot at sight.’ That is not law enforcement, it is lawlessness. Anyone who talks like this has no business in public office,” Shaibu said.

He added that criminal acts should be addressed through established legal processes rather than extrajudicial measures, warning that such rhetoric could set a dangerous precedent.

Later the same day, Shaibu returned to the post to point out what he described as a grammatical error in Onanuga’s statement, arguing that the correct expression should be “shoot on sight” rather than “shoot at sight.”

Onanuga replied on Monday, dismissing the criticism and insisting that both expressions were acceptable.

“Foolish boy. Both usages are correct. Upgrade your grammar,” he wrote.

Shaibu responded with a detailed explanation, maintaining that “shoot on sight” is a fixed idiom in English and should not be altered.

The exchange, which drew attention from social media users, highlighted not only differing views on public communication and law enforcement but also an unusual debate over grammar between aides to two of Nigeria’s leading political figures.

As of the time of filing this report, Onanuga had not responded to Shaibu’s latest remarks.

LagosOrigin:
Government of Agbero and semi illiterates

fergie001:
You wan follow Phrank fight for Grammar?

I remember Phrank's "Mind Your Grammar" Days on NTA.

rack your brain
More power to your elbow
You cannot have your cake and eat it...

Kai, I go school small.nah 😂

EarthKing:
The proper phrase is; "You cannot eat your cake and have it."


Break a leg...

fergie001:
You cannot have your cake and eat it, Sir.

SpaceX:
Who grammar help? Both tinubu and Atiku are incompetent only obi have the special skills to lead Nigeria to the promise land.

EarthKing:
The proper phrase is; "You cannot have your cake and eat it too."


Break a leg...

owobokiri:
Onanuga is a power drunk executive ra-sc-al.
No multi ethnic state should have such rampaging tribalist anywhere near the sit of power. Dude is full of village hate and sees his problems as being caused by anyone not from the same ethnic stock like him.
So petty minded and very narrow minded in his ways. His relevance in Nigerias politics begins and ends with this rudderless regime. Matter of time before he is swiftly swept into political oblivion where he rightly belongs..
Ndi NADECO

Melagros:
COMRADES, I don't usually read any epistle written here that contains tinubu or Onanuga's name