American policy analyst, Matthew T. Page, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration which is already overwhelmed by myriad of challenges facing the country, may end up destroying the country due to its poor choice of words.
Page who made the statement on Twitter, in response to the controversy generated by some tweets from the president’s official handle @MBuhari on Tuesday, said the President's 'megaphones', as Soyinka calls them, lack basic social media skills.
These megaphones who serve as media aide to the President, and who handle his social accounts, include Malam Garba Shehu, Femi Adesina, Bashir Ahmad, Tolu Ogunlesi, and Lauretta Onochie.
Page, who is an Associate Fellow of the Chatham House Africa Programme in London, quoted a tweet in which the president said that some “misbehaving” Nigerians would be treated “in the language they understand”.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” the tweet read.
Page said the controversial tweet, has exposed the Buhari media handlers’ inexperience in social media management.
He said, “Someone needs to send PMB’s spokespeople to some basic social media training.”
“Lesson 1: Conduct yourself professionally and try to make your principal appear presidential.
“Lesson 2: Don’t say things that will heat up the polity.
“Lesson 3: Avoid mafia catch phrases.”
Someone needs to send PMB's spokespeople to some basic social media training.
— Matthew T. Page (@MatthewTPage) June 2, 2021
Lesson 1: Conduct yourself professionally and try to make your principal appear presidential.
Lesson 2: Don't say things that will heat up the polity.
Lesson 3: Avoid mafia catch phrases. https://t.co/QEYQcWnw7O
Meanwhile, Buhari's appointed minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has warned Nigerians against teaching Buhari how to do his job, saying Nigerians cannot accuse the president of not securing the country, but at the same time, criticize him for taking action.
Keyamo stated this in a Tuesday tweet while reacting to a controversial comment in which the President threatened to deal with those he said, want his government to fail.
Buhari had said, “I receive daily security reports on the attacks on critical national infrastructure, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” he added.
The comment has continued to generate criticism on social media, especially Twitter, where many users described it as a plot to justify attacks by security agents on innocent residents of the South-East.
Quoting the president’s tweet, Keyamo wrote, “I hope some elites who couldn’t find their voices to rein in their wards when their region burnt, will not suddenly find their voices against Mr. President!
“Those who screamed that it’s Mr. President’s duty to maintain law & order should NOT try to teach him how to do his job now.
“The anger some are displaying against the President’s resolve to be decisive in dealing with these scoundrels is an indication of their support for the destruction of public infrastructure because they want to cripple government. A pure case of cutting your nose to spite your face!
“A very unfortunate reasoning you read is that because insurgency is still prevalent in some other parts of the country, the President should just allow some villains destroy another region.
“It’s like a competition to bring the insecurity in one region at par with other regions!
“We were told they are UNKNOWN GUNMEN. But the moment the President vowed to deal with these ‘unknown’ elements, they have suddenly become known as INNOCENT CITIZENS in a part of the country!
“It is a case of ‘Cunning man die, Wayo man bury am’! A huge conspiracy blown wide open!”