ABUJA — The President Bola Tinubu administration is facing a wave of mockery and “digital shame” following a twin-scandal involving alleged attempts to buy social media support to polish the government’s battered image.
In a viral video released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, popular content creator Kevin Blak, widely known as “Governor Amuneke,” claimed he flatly rejected a massive offer from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to serve as a campaign mouthpiece for the 2027 re-election bid.
“My Voice is Not for Sale”
Amuneke, known for his biting satirical critiques of the current economic hardship, alleged that he was offered “mouthwatering amounts in Dollars” and even a lucrative chairmanship position to cease his criticisms and join the pro-government propaganda machine.
Reading from alleged recruitment messages, Amuneke quoted one operative as saying, “Just join us, and I will open you to offers bigger than Facebook crumbs.” Defying the pressure, the comedian vowed to remain an independent voice. “Even after Tinubu, we would still be here,” he declared, insisting he cannot be bought.
The ₦3,000 ‘Hunger Pay’
While Amuneke allegedly turned down millions, other social media users are reportedly being offered a pittance to defend the President. Leaked WhatsApp chats, circulating since Monday, February 16, appear to show APC associates offering as little as ₦3,000 per post to “micro-influencers” to amplify pro-government narratives.
The leaked instructions reportedly directed users to “quote-tweet and engage” with specific content in exchange for the small fee. The development has triggered widespread mockery online, with many noting that the “influencer rate” has plummeted from the ₦20,000 reported in 2023 to just ₦3,000—a figure many say is an insult given the current ₦100,000 cost of a bag of rice.
“Buying Conscience with Crumbs”—Nigerians React
The revelation of the “3k pay-to-post” scheme has ignited a firestorm of criticism from a populace already exhausted by record-high inflation.
- “Digital Hunger Games”: “They have ₦66 billion for luxury SUVs for themselves, but they want to buy the youth’s conscience with the price of two loaves of bread,” remarked one analyst on X. “It shows how much they truly value the people they are starving.”
- “The Death of Organic Support”: Critics argued that the reliance on paid “bots” is proof that the “Renewed Hope” agenda has failed to gain genuine support. “If the policies were working, they wouldn’t need to pay ₦3k for a ‘Like,'” a resident of Lagos noted.
- “The Amuneke Example”: Many Nigerians hailed the skit maker’s rejection of the “chairmanship” offer as a rare display of integrity. “In a country where everyone has a price, it’s refreshing to see someone who can’t be bought,” a Facebook user wrote.
As of Thursday afternoon, February 19, the APC National Secretariat has not issued a formal response to the leaked chats or the comedian’s bribery allegations.
