Onanuga and Atiku’s aide Phrank Shaibu clash publicly over ‘shoot at sight’ remarks, sparking debate on law enforcement language

A public confrontation unfolded on X (formerly Twitter) between Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, and Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, over comments on vandalism and the use of language.

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The spat followed reports of alleged vandalism of rehabilitation works on the Ilesha–Ibadan Expressway. Onanuga called for severe punishment for those involved, posting, “Just shoot these unconscionable vandals/thieves at sight. They are worst species of citizenships.”

Shaibu swiftly responded, criticising the statement as inappropriate for a government official. “As a government spokesman, you cannot call for citizens to be ‘shot at sight.’

That is not law enforcement, it is lawlessness. Anyone who talks like this has no business in public office,” he tweeted.

The debate escalated when Shaibu pointed out a grammatical error in Onanuga’s statement, asserting that the correct idiom is “shoot on sight.”

Onanuga dismissed the correction, insisting that both expressions are acceptable and advising Shaibu to “upgrade your grammar.” Shaibu countered with a detailed explanation defending the traditional usage.

The exchange drew widespread attention on social media, highlighting both a clash over public messaging and an unusual debate over grammar between aides to two of Nigeria’s leading political figures.