Ashafa Fumes Over ‘Inappropriate Picture’ of Buhari Congratulating Him As New MD of FHA, Demands Apology From ThisDay

By Moyosore Michael

Senator Olugbenga Ashafa, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA has expressed displeasure over ThisDay’s front page picture on Monday which captured President Mohammadu Buhari in a pose with him with a caption that suggested that the picture was taken after he (Senator Ashafa) was appointed recently.

In a statement on his Facebook page on Monday, Ashafa said while the picture is not recent as it was taken as far back as 2018, it could mischievously be interpreted as the duo flouting the COVID- 19 safety protocols.

The statement reads;

“The attention of Senator Bareehu Olugbenga Ashafa, Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA has been drawn to a picture published on the front page of the Monday, August 17, 2020 edition of Thisday newspaper which captured President Mohammadu Buhari in a pose with Senator Ashafa with a caption that suggested that the picture was taken after Senator Ashafa was appointed Managing Director of the FHA recently.

“We wish to put it on record that the said picture was taken during a visit to the state house by some members of the APC caucus in the senate in November 2018 and were received by President Muhamnadu Buhari at Aso Rock Villa.

“As the optics of the picture indicate glaringly, it could not have been taken recently as it is in not in compliance with the COVID- 19 safety protocols which do not allow any type of close contact and the non – use of a facial mask by visitors to the President as seen in the picture.

“We have contacted Thisday to register our observations and demand a retraction of the caption and publication of a correction to indicate the accurate context in which the picture was taken.”