Contrary to claims by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, that the offensive #BringBackJonathan2015 campaign slogan was used by supporters without his boss’ knowledge and approval, findings have shown that President Goodluck Jonathan’s handlers have been promoting the hashtag since August.
An August 22, 2014 Twitter post (reproduced below) by Senior Special Assistant the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, reads:
#BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity
#BringBackJonathanIn2015….4continuity
#BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity.
The message was retweeted several times without any objection from Jonathan.
It, however, took an article by the Washington Post to compel the Presidency to order its removal on his re-election campaign materials.
In a statement on Wednesday condemning what it described as “offensive and repugnant” use of the hashtag on banners and billboards, the President said, “the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag.”
It continued: “While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #BringBackJonathan2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.”
Former Minister of Education and a key driver of the #BringBackOurGirls Group, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, on Wednesday labelled the Presidential team as “liars and duplicitous” after Jonathan disowned the #BringBackJonathan hashtag.
She reminded Nigerians that Okupe “generated that callous hashtag and tweeted it for many days.”
#BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity #BringBackJonathanIn2015….4continuity #BringBackJonathanIn2015…4continuity
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) August 22, 2014
