The abduction of over 200 little girls from Chibok in the Northern State of Nigeria gave rise to the hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls. Many people around the world used this hashtag to align with the search for the missing girls on social media. Till date, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, instrumental to the start of the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media, is still calling for the return of the girls.
It is 149 days since the abduction of the girls from Chibok and the Nigerian government is still looking for the girls. And Boko Haram, the group responsible for this heinous act, is still running riot in Nigeria.
Now who would imagine that some so-called supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan would now want to ride on the virality of the hashtag to come up with a similar hashtag – #BringBackGoodluck2015
Of Course, the social media has been agog with comments against the distasteful nature of this campaign. Even the Washington Post thinks “This may be the most inappropriate political hashtag of the year”
Here are some of the tweets on this subject:
The winner of most insensitive hashtag goes to the new campaign slogan: #BringBackGoodluck2015 http://t.co/PGEawhL3Rp pic.twitter.com/UfrHWaeID4
— Femi Oke (@FemiOke) September 9, 2014
Hey folks! The #ChibokGirls have been missing for 147 days.What did Goodluck Jonathan do?He stole their hashtag. #BringBackGoodluck2015 OMG!
— 3ChicsPolitico (@3ChicsPolitico) September 8, 2014
Photo-Audit: As Ebeledenies knowledge. Lying “Pastor”@doyinokupe started the #BringBackGoodluck2015 pic.twitter.com/LLJC0CgTQS
— KayodeOgundamisi(@ogundamisi) September 10, 2014
In a real country the fools responsible for #BringBackGoodluck2015 would be fired immediately! @abati1990 @renoomokri http://t.co/MTywKMRzS1
— Lord of the Gourds (@ikhide) September 10, 2014
Based on the global uproar, the President has ordered that the various signs and banners in Abuja should be brought down immediately. See the Press Release by Reuben Abati below.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja which he and many Nigerians find offensive and repugnant be brought down immediately.
President Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs which were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive parody of the #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.
While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 2015 signs which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.
The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 10, 2014
