Wale Ajetunmobi, a media aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has defended his principal’s decision to buy roasted plantain, popularly known as Boli, from a roadside trader in the Ajegunle area of the state.

He was also seen conversing with students in the community about how they felt about their school.

The governor’s action was described by many netizens as a campaign strategy employed by Nigerian politicians, especially as elections draw near.

An X user, @Samieking3, described Sanwo-Olu’s action as “Campaign strategy that is already outdated, but we still let these clowns do as they like.”

@AnderuOgbeni said, “Why are all these politicians buying toasted plantain now? They’ll either go to the local bucateria to eat!!! Old styles again??? E don cast.”

@Obaskki said, “When election time is near, nothing stops them from having a conversation with even a madman walking along the road.”

@ChijiokeBr24 said, “Suddenly, he remembers them. The same old system, Nigerians keep falling for it. They only remember your existence when it’s time to vote.”

However, Ajetunmobi, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Lagos State Governor, said Sanwo-Olu’s gesture was no political show.

He wrote, “Yes, in 2026! How many of those people have opportunities to see the Governor face-to-face? A simple gesture of conversing with a resident shouldn’t always be seen as a political show, more so when you know the actor is not contesting any election. Sanwo-Olu didn’t do badly.”