El-Rufai’s ‘insulting’ Twitter post on President Jonathan sparks debate
A post on the Twitter page of a former
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai,
describing President Goodluck Jonathan as “docile”, has sparked a
debate.
El-Rufai, who is the Interim Deputy
National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, had on
Saturday quoted a tweet and its accompanying picture of one of his
followers, Lauretta Onochie, on his Twitter page, which some people
deemed anti-Jonathan.
The picture showed the President on his
knees praying to God. However, the message which accompanied his picture
stated, “Many prayers of the lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless,
hopeless and useless leader!”
In an apparent move to shrug off initial
criticism that he is a religious bigot, El-Rufai, who describes himself
as a “certified ruffler of feathers” tweeted that he would have gladly
posted such a tweet on his Twitter page if the President were a Muslim
praying in the mosque.
“If he (a muslim President) prays
instead of honest work, yes!” he tweeted, in response to a query by one
Editi Akpan, who was worried about the tweet.
Quoting the words of American born poet,
Joybell C, El-Rufai wrote that he has a message for members of the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party and supporters of the President whom he
described as “Jonathanians.” He wrote, “No, I am not bitter, I am not
hateful, and I am not unforgiving. I just don’t like you.”
But the Presidency has reacted to the
Twitter post, describing it as mockery of the office of the President.
Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Reno Omokri, in a tweet
to el-Rufai, branded him as a “bitter” fellow.
“It is only a sick and bitter fellow
like you that would stoop so low to mock a man praying to his God. What
type of man mocks a person who is praying to God? Even if you don’t
respect your President, at least, respect God!” Omokri stated.
However, the controversial tweet has
attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media. While some
Nigerians condemned the former minister for the message others argued
that the adjectives used in the tweet truly describe Jonathan.
Those who carpeted el-Rufai said they
had expected him to have steered clear of such tweets and not amplify
such on social media.
According to them the President deserves some respect and putting such a post on his (el-Rufai’s) Twitter page was out of place.
A Twitter user, Ladi Owolabi, said the
words used on the President were too heavy. “As an opinion leader and a
former minister el-Rufai should know better than retweeting that
rubbish? You (el-Rufai) should be totally ashamed of yourself!”
Another Twitter user, Bryan Chaut, described el-Rufai’s actions as a misbehaviour, adding that he needed to turn a new leaf.
“So the accidental Mallam misbehaved
again today. We have become too wise in our own eyes that we mock people
who pray to God. Mallam’s style is always the same, he asks someone to
tweet something and then he retweets. This isn’t the first time. Mallam
and his paid goons need to repent,” Chaut wrote on the micro-blogging
service.
Also a Facebook follower of el-Rufai,
Duro Damisa, expressed disappointment, saying whatever grouse he has
against the President, he shouldn’t have allowed such derogatory
adjectives on his social media pages.
Damisa stated, “Even if someone else
tweeted this absurd and nasty insult upon the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, I think you (el-rufai) have done the unthinkable by
retweeting it from your account. I am an avid reader of your posts and
tweets, but I make bold to say that your write-ups smack of hatred on
GEJ’s personality.
“It is only you and God that know what
he has done to you. You were once in power and if you are not there now,
it doesn’t mean you won’t be there again. Please respect the office of
the President. Democracy does not mean disrespect.”
Rising in defence of el-Rufai, a
prolific Twitter user, Babatunde Rosanwo, explained that the
controversial tweet was not far from the truth adding that every
individual has a right to express his opinion.
According to him, Nigerians should focus
on the real issues raised. He said that the President had been
“sleeping on duty” and the tweet was an “apt description” of the
Nigerian leader.
He wrote, “But the tweet was not mocking
Jonathan, it was an apt description of the present President. The
country is in dire need of leadership, the presidency is splashing
pictures of the President praying in Israel across social media.
“About time Nigeria started paying good
salary with allowances. Every leader has abdicated responsibilities to
Him. Do I care if el-Rufai is a Muslim or focused on the real issue
which is that the President is sleeping on duty? The hypocrisy is to
single out el- Rufai as a Muslim and anti-Christ.
“Performing presidents in advanced
democracies are getting knocks to do more; we are here shielding the
non-performing but praying President.”
Kayode Bakare wrote on Facebook that Jonathan had, by his actions and inactions, brought to himself such a “ridicule.”
“I don’t think we should debase the
institution of the Presidency but when you have a fellow who seems to be
on a mission to bring so much ridicule to the exalted seat, can we
rightly blame does that use bad words on him?”
One Niyi Agunbiade also stated, “GEJ
attracts this sort of language. No matter how polished and gentlemanly
anyone can be, words will fail you where Jonathan is concerned. I detest
abuse of character too, but I make an exception with Jonathan. Period.”
