WAFCON: Nigerians assault Tinubu for Tremendous Falcons’ greenback reward

Some Nigerians have taken to their social media accounts to attack President Bola Tinubu for rewarding the 24 players of the Super Falcons with $100,000 each and the technical team with $500,000.

Tinubu confers national honours on Super Falcons

According to Tinubu’s critics on X on Monday, the cash reward would have been paid in naira if he were serious about stabilising the country’s currency.

Recall that DAILY POST reported that Tinubu conferred national honours and a cash reward on the Super Falcons for emerging winners of the just-concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON.

The Super Falcons had staged a surprise comeback to defeat the Moroccan Atlas Lionesses on Saturday.

Tinubu and his wife, Remi Tinubu, on Monday received the Super Falcons and the trophy.

Consequently, the presidential spokesperson, Olusegun Dada, announced on X that Tinubu had conferred national honours and cash rewards on the victorious Super Falcons.

While some lauded the President, others condemned him.

Oke O. Matarazi, on his X account, questioned why President Tinubu would give $100,000 to footballers while trying to stabilise the naira.

“You’re telling us we’re trying to stabilise the naira, yet you dash out $100,000 to footballers and $50,000 to technical staff in foreign currency? Meanwhile, hardworking citizens and pensioners are choking under inflation, and manufacturers can’t access forex to import raw materials.

“What message are we sending? That celebrity applause is more valuable than economic discipline?

“Rewarding excellence is good. But leadership is also about symbolism, and this dollar generosity screams, “We don’t trust the naira either”, he wrote.

Similarly, Ifeanyi Okafor wrote on X, “Why didn’t he pay them in Naira?”

Meanwhile, Femi Yekinni commended the President for the reward to the Super Falcons, describing it as well merited.

“Very commendable, Mr. President. A well-merited award and gifts for the girls. They made us all proud,” he wrote on X.

https://x.com/femyek/status/1949874390344085612?t=GuqsoT31_7ZByZoS6XJY6g&s=19

DAILY POST reports that the naira to dollar stood at N1,534.21 per dollar on Monday, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange data.