Tompolo shuns Tinubu’s wish for low-key birthday, buys out frontpages of dailies

Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, bought the frontpages of a slew of national newspapers to celebrate the 72nd birthday of President Bola Tinubu, even though the celebrant had pleaded for a “low-key” anniversary.

Tompolo is the chairperson of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, an oil pipeline surveillance firm that tackles crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Last Sunday, the presidency announced that Tinubu will not celebrate his 72nd birthday on March 29 “in deference to the challenging times” in the country.

The presidency said the president “does not want any of his associates and numerous well-wishers across the country to organise any celebratory event on his behalf or in his name”.

Tinubu also “enjoins friends and associates who may wish to place goodwill advertorials to kindly donate the money to charity organisations of their choice in his name”.

However, on Friday, Tompolo placed birthday messages for Tinubu on the frontpages of at least eight national dailies.

A frontpage newspaper advert of the size Tompolo splurged on costs an average of N10 million.

This is not the first time the Tantita boss will use the frontpage of dailies to celebrate Tinubu.

In October 2023, after the supreme court affirmed Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, Tompolo bought the frontpages of several dailies to celebrate the judgment.

See pictures of the frontpages of today’s dailies below.