Nigerians on Thursday took to social media, criticizing Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, for tagging the protest organized by the RevolutionNow Movement as a child’s play.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that several RevolutionNow protesters on Wednesday took over the streets of major cities across the country on a peaceful protest over alleged incompetence of the present administration.
Although the protests were halted by operatives of the Nigerian Army and Police, some of the protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Nigerians are sick and tired of poverty, corruption, injustice and untimely death’; ‘Say no to injustice’, ‘Yes to living wage for unemployed youths’.
In Abuja, our correspondents observed that the protesters, many of whom wore orange berets, converged on the Unity Fountain as early as 8am before policemen stormed the venue and dispersed them.
Some of the protesters were arrested and later released.
But appearing on the Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program Thursday morning, Mr Adesina described the protest as child’s play, saying that “protests by their very nature are spontaneous things. They are mass things”.
“I just saw a sprinkle of people trying to be funny. As far as I’m concerned it’s nothing to worry about because when you talk of revolution, revolution is a mass thing not just those sprinkle of young boys and girls you saw in different parts of the country. I think it is a funny thing to call it a protest.”
In reaction, the Nigerian social media community pounced on the presidential aide, expressing their angst over Mr Adesina’s use of the phrase ‘child’s play’ on “these brave youths that embark on a peaceful protest”.
A twitter user @Olamirewaju22 said: “Who knows Femi Adesina, tag him to this post and tell him I said he’s a fool, cretin, opportunist and a bastard.
“He should look for me wherever I am. He referred to peaceful protesters as kids, and some set of people. May peace of mind be far away from him”.
Another user, @RealkingofDubai, wrote: “I guess that Moron Femi Adesina has forgotten so soon how Buhari, El Rufai and others Protested in Abuja concerning the insecurity in the country even asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign, Today you can’t Protest in Peace in a Democratic Republic.”
One Emeka Nweke also shared thus: “Do u know that femi adesina the special adviser on media to the cabals that are ruling Nigeria said that Nigerians are sounding like a broken records & Nigerians did nothing but the same idiots are attacking MNK for calling Nigeria a ZOO.”
However, @chefjade14 tweeted: “Here is why people are complaining about the distraction that BBN is. With everything going on in the country!Before you come for me,go and read the news this morning. Femi Adesina called the brave people who went to protest for your future ‘irritants’.
@Lucasscot also wrote: “I can’t really blame Femi Adesina for calling the protest a child’s play… A lot of us were sitting down in our houses wishing,hoping and also praying that. “NIGERIA go better” reality never dawn on us yet.. NIGERIA can never be better with these old men recycling themselves”.
