A tweet by Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, telling the Federal Government that Nigeria is hellish; and a presidential aide’s response have set Twitter agog, as Omotola and Bashir Ahmed have continued to trend as Nigerians respond to their tweets.
Jalade-Ekeinde had, on Sunday, tweeted at President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, via her official Twitter account, @Realomosexy: “The country under your watch is hellish! @ProfOsinbajo @MBuhari @NGRPresident The lack of Money in circulation, now coupled with the continuous assault and killings by uniformed men will make this country implode!!! It’s unbearable! Do something! Insecurity! Fear and desperation everywhere.”
The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmed, via his verified Twitter account, @BashirAhmaad, on Tuesday, responded, “Madam Omotola, those who are working for clean money are not complaining and will never refer to our dear country as ‘hellish’. In Kano State alone, from 2015 to 2018, no fewer than 200 medium and small-scale rice milling centres emerged. For that, billions circulated among millions.
However, Jalade-Ekeinde, in her reply, called on the presidential aide to put politics aside and address the issues objectively.
She said, “As long as you’re not insinuating that I am not working clean for my money, I hear you. It’s good that there are some (signs of) progress. Do you truly want to say you don’t see all that’s really wrong? Can we fight for our future in truth for once? Without being partisan?”
Jalade-Ekeinde’s tweet generated support from several Nigerians, including a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, who reminded the actress that public servants were wont to turn a blind eye to the protests of the public.
Ezekwesili said, “Don’t worry yourself. We all know foolish hubris when we see it. The world is filled with relics of governments that ignored the outcries of their citizens. Don’t worry yourself. #MessageToOmotola.
“Those with the privilege of education must use their voice in every society to demand a better life for especially the weak, the poor and the vulnerable. Don’t worry yourself about what is thrown at you. They and not you have the duty to the accountability you demanded.”
Culled: PUNCH
