By IDNN Political Desk
The Presidency has launched a blistering attack on Daily Trust, accusing the northern-based newspaper of spreading falsehoods and promoting division against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the claims on his verified X handle (@aonanuga1956), insisting that Nigerians must reject Daily Trust as a platform “not to be trusted.”
“I can now confirm that the Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, operates as the antithesis of its name. While it demands public trust, it consistently distorts facts to serve a narrow agenda. It inflames religious passions with false narratives,” Onanuga declared.
He cited the paper’s sensationalist coverage of the Samoa agreement — for which Daily Trust later apologised — as proof of its alleged lack of integrity.
The aide further accused the newspaper of recycling debunked allegations of lopsided allocation of federal projects, saying the aim was to damage Tinubu’s image.
“Their intention is to repeat the lie, paint Tinubu black, and make the lie stick. But facts are stubborn. Because they are the truth, they will always triumph over falsehood,” Onanuga wrote.
Framing the row as a battle between truth and propaganda, Onanuga said Daily Trust views national policies through a narrow regional lens, a posture he described as “dangerous for Nigeria’s fragile unity.”
“Nigerians must see this paper for what it is: a source not to be trusted, unworthy of the title it bears, a newspaper that should be consigned to the dustbin when it arrives at the breakfast table,” he warned.
The Presidency’s statement, which repeatedly emphasised Daily Trust’s alleged falsehoods and division, urged citizens to shun manipulative reporting and instead embrace “reliable journalism” that strengthens the federation.
The clash highlights a growing rift between the Tinubu administration and sections of the Nigerian press, raising renewed questions about media freedom and accountability in Africa’s largest democracy.
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