By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Senator Shehu Sani has claimed that any African leader who sacked CNN and other international media outlets from his presidential palace would have been branded “a cowardly dictator, fearful and allergic to free press and free speech” by Western media and international human rights groups, insisting that United States President Donald Trump did it “with ease.”
Sani made the claim in a post on his official X handle, @ShehuSani, last edited on Friday, September 19, 2026, at 8:10pm. The post had generated 51,000 views, 141 comments, 144 reposts and 672 likes as of the time of filing this report.
“If any African leader sacks the CNN and other international media outlets from his presidential palace, the Western Media and International Human Rights groups would have called and categorized him as ‘a cowardly dictator, fearful and allergic to free press and free speech’. Trump did it with ease,” he wrote.
Reacting to the post, an X user, Enyogai_360, pushed back at the senator, urging him to stop comparing the United States with poverty-stricken and corrupt African countries.
“Oga shehu stop comparing America with Poverty stricken and corrupt African rulers. If your Nigeria has developed herself to the at least 50% of American standard, who cares what the hell is reported by the press. Rest abeg,” the user wrote.
Another user, Peacemaker-wd, criticised Sani directly, questioning whether an active and performing president who bans what the user described as fake news media was worse than a president who remains absent from public engagement.
“You double faced former failed senator. Which is better: an active, present and performing president with a conscience who bans a fake news media or a docile, aloof and absent president always hiding either in a bunker at Aso villa or somewhere in France but never engaging the people he claims to govern? Tell if you’ve got any decency to do so,” the user wrote.
A third user, Ujay Osuji, questioned the senator’s characterisation of Trump’s action as effortless, noting that the decision followed constitutional consultation and could still attract legal action from the affected media organisations.
“Are you sure, he did it with ease? They have already consulted their constitution and thought about it well before acting. CNN and the rest may sue him. Not all his fans are happy about it,” the user wrote.
Another user, Emeka Olisakwe, argued that CNN and local Nigerian media had never been permitted unrestricted access to the presidential villa, except at the president’s discretion.
“CNN and even our local media were never allowed to enter the Aso villa in the first place. Except if the president wishes. In a sane community there are press space with Mr. President,” the user wrote.
Other reactions to the post were mixed, with a user identified as ‘Muna Esegine noting that Trump had previously been called worse names and remained unbothered, while a user, Monsieur Nick, described Trump as “the real MVP” and criticised African leaders for what the user termed timidity in confronting the press.
