The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is facing criticism for unveiling a portrait of President Bola Tinubu, created by one of its officials during the commissioning of new aircraft. 

The controversial portrait resembles a photograph of late Nigerian fighter pilot Tolulope Arotile, who tragically died in a car accident in July 2020.

Arotile’s death has raised suspicions, with some alleging foul play, although the NAF’s preliminary report attributes it to a friendly mistake.

Social media has been flooded with accusations that the Tinubu portrait is an attempt to mock Arotile’s memory or a coded threat to government critics. The NAF has not responded to the criticisms surrounding the portrait.

The self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, tweeted, “This is the picture of a Yoruba pilot they assassinated because she was killing Boko Haram… This is a strong message… What the picture depicts is that you will die like this girl.”

One user, identified on X as Royalty, wrote, “I never thought Tinubu could be this petty to be mocking a young military woman who died in a questionable manner given her exploits as a military air force personnel.”

Royalty added that the Nigerian Air Force has “shamelessly” made a mockery of the late pilot Tolulope by photoshopping Tinubu’s head on a caricature of what used to be her usual pose while she was alive.

“This young lady, Tolulope Arotile, went through training for years, successfully graduated, and she was killed by Nigeria. They forgot her for years, only to use Tinubu to mock her memory. Tinubu, who can’t hold a helmet,. Mocking dead heroes,” another user named “Distinguished KPMG LinkedIn Everest” wrote.

Another user named Toluwani accused the president and NAF, whom he referred to as “Tinubu’s gang,” of trying to steal this Arotile identity, adding that “we know stealing identities isn’t a new thing to Tinubu but will they allow the young lady to rest at least?”

 The NAF has not responded to the criticisms surrounding the portrait.