Keyamo Mocks Claims of Tinubu’s Pre-Recorded Speech, Recalls Buhari ‘Jubril’ Conspiracy Theory

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has criticised claims that President Bola Tinubu’s speech at the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council was pre-recorded, comparing the controversy to the conspiracy theory that former President Muhammadu Buhari had been replaced by a Sudanese lookalike.

Keyamo reacted to the claims in a post on X, arguing that the allegation about Tinubu’s appearance was unfounded because local and international media organisations covered the event live.

The minister recalled a similar controversy during Buhari’s administration, when claims circulated that the former president had died while receiving medical treatment in London in 2017 and had been replaced by a Sudanese man identified as Jubril.

“I really don’t know whether to laugh or to cry,” Keyamo wrote, expressing disbelief at the suggestion that Tinubu’s speech had been recorded before the event.

The allegation surrounding Tinubu’s speech has drawn attention amid political discussions surrounding the APC and preparations for the next electoral cycle. Keyamo maintained that the live media coverage of the campaign council launch contradicted the claim that the president’s appearance was pre-recorded.

The minister also criticised opposition figures whom he accused of promoting the allegation, suggesting that their actions showed signs of “mental distress.”

Buhari’s alleged replacement by a man called Jubril from Sudan became a widely discussed conspiracy theory during his presidency. The former president repeatedly appeared in public and dismissed the claims, which were never substantiated.

Keyamo’s comments have revived comparisons between political misinformation during Buhari’s administration and the latest claims involving Tinubu, highlighting the continued role of social media in spreading contested narratives about Nigeria’s political leaders.