On September 9, 2017, General Victor Malu, former Chief of Army Staff died in a Cairo Hospital. Victor Malu played major roles in the trial of General Oladipo Diya in 1998, the Odi Massacre in 1999 and peace keeping for two years during the first Liberian civil war. It is no wonder that Nigerians had mixed reactions to the news of the death.
Some believe that he was a hero
Adieu General Victor Malu, former Chief of Army Staff (1999-2001) and Force Commander, ECOMOG Peace Keeping Force(1996-98). A True Warrior!
— Chife, Ph.D (@NnamdiChife) October 9, 2017
I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Gen. Victor Malu. He was a brave soldier and a true Nigerian hero.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MurtalaIbin/status/917435986384248837
Nigeria lost one of its best men today – General Victor Malu. May your rest in peace sir. And may God comfort your family.
— Ife Adebayo (@IfeAdebayo) October 9, 2017
We refuse to forget our history so quickly
I hear Victor Malu has passed on. He was the one who instigated the Odi Massacre. I think he was COAS then. He will answer to God now.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) October 9, 2017
Speak no ill of the dead. Doesn't mean we shouldn't remember them for ills.. I remember Victor Malu for 2 things. Odi and the Diya coup.
— Mallam Battycash (@Batarhe) October 9, 2017
We should stop lying to ourselves and mute the 'glowing tributes' to Victor Malu. I hope we never have his like again.
— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/Alexander2Fredo/status/917757685961052161
And then we saw this.
Benue Government Reveals Plan To Immortalise General Victor Malu. https://t.co/BJpksSPC4e pic.twitter.com/xfZXxmxneS
— Channels Television (@channelstv) October 10, 2017
Speaking of forgotten history…
What we are *not* about to do is make Abacha a pop icon.
Have we romanticized history to nothingness, or we don't know any to begin with? pic.twitter.com/f68Nh76ISB
— salt. light. (@maxImeaner) October 9, 2017
While we question some Nigerians’ choice of national heros, here are some other interesting topics on social media this week.
First Lady turned Whistle blower
This week, a video of Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria went viral on social media. In the video, she revealed that the Aso Rock clinic is poorly equipped despite its huge budget allocation.
https://twitter.com/OsasCruz/status/917623418224332801
Here are few reactions on social media.
Preach Aisha, Preach!
If our 1st Ladies, Wives of Govs use their voice as Aisha Buhari, our progress will quadruple. I salute her courage & patriotism.
— Gloria Adagbon (@gloria_adagbon) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/femifactor/status/917430733928648706
He made clear point buhari is softer than his wife, his wife no send anyone. Eg she lambasted Aso villa clinic director yesterday.weak PMB
— Igwe OBODO🌎⚽️🥒🍆 (@jeoboydi) October 10, 2017
Let the whistleblowing begin!
Billions have been budgeted for Aso Clinic. The current occupants of Aso Villa need to find out what has been happening to that budget.
— Rikutoshifu 🇳🇬 (@4eyedmonk) October 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/UrbanCulture06/status/917647494724685824
Aisha Buhari for President
Aisha Buhari can literally run against her husband in 2019 .It wouldn't be a bad idea *cos she is so blunt with *d truth unlike the "cabals" pic.twitter.com/BGUZJLWbpH
— Hero Daniels🇳🇬 🇿🇦 (@hero_daniels) October 9, 2017
If Aisha Buhari is more sensitive to the needs of the people & happenings in the Villa than her husband, why can't we just vote her in 2019? pic.twitter.com/OkCcg7ijjN
— Coach Godwin Odiko ⚽️🇳🇬 (@GodwinOdiko) October 10, 2017
Maybe we should make Aisha Buhari the president in 2019 and send Mohammadu Buhari to the other room 🤔
— Val (@Ten0verten_) October 9, 2017
A recap
Maryam IBB: Elegance
Mariam Abacha: Lady Macbeth
Turai: Leader of cabal
Patience GEJ: Impudent, Impulsive
Aisha Buhari: Social Crusader
— Imam Imam (@imamdimam) October 11, 2017
Then came the jokes
I’m so sure the APC media houses are confused with Aisha Buhari speech, we are yet to cover up for kachukwu and you starting another one🙄 pic.twitter.com/Cpp52sGncN
— Michael_Power (@that_AM_guy) October 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/GreatGracious/status/917709401183494144
We celebrate the girl child
On October 11 every year, the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl to encourage the girl child and increase awareness for gender equality. This year, Nigerians joined the conversation on Twitter with the #Dayofthegirl hashtag.
Investing in the education, health and empowerment of girls today means that they will have the tools to make smart choices.#DayoftheGirl pic.twitter.com/6EFEMwRRy1
— UreportNigeria (@UreportNigeria) October 11, 2017
Good Morning Nigeria.
Today is the International Day of the Girl #DayoftheGirl #IDG2017 #GirlsCount
Cc: @StrongEnoughGEI @UNICEF pic.twitter.com/Tf2SQzOukM— P. Forward Everyone (@ForwardEveryone) October 11, 2017
Happy #InternationalDayoftheGirlChild
Girls have the right to education, that is the best tool to empower them with #DayoftheGirl pic.twitter.com/vGuZqG55Fa
— SOS Children's Villages Nigeria (@SOSCVNigeria) October 11, 2017
Some troubling statistcis
According to UNICEF, Nigeria has 10.5M out of school children.
Do you know that 60% of that number are girls? #InternationalDayoftheGirl— CYPF Nigeria (@cypfoundation) October 11, 2017
Nigeria ranks 27th in world’s toughest place for girls to get education.#DayoftheGirl
— DEBBIE (@DebsExtra) October 11, 2017
A call to action
Parents must protect and empower their children with education. It reduces them falling prey as tools for violent conflict #DayoftheGirl
— Battle for Humanity: Nigeria (@B4H_Nigeria) October 11, 2017
Dear Girl Child, we celebrate you, we believe you can change the world.
NNPC saga 2.0
Last week, a letter written by Ibe Kachikwu to the president leaked on social media and it created quite a frenzy. The saga continues this week as NNPC replied Kachikwu and tweeted parts of the letter through their official Twitter handle. In the official reply, NNPC debunked Ibe Kachikwu’s allegations against Dr. Maikanti Baru, NNPC Group Managing Director.
Nigerians reacted
So Kachikwu wrote a letter to @MBuhari abt Baru , Bubu den asked Baru to respond. This leadership style in a democracy is 😔
— Ajebo by Force (@remexy) October 9, 2017
this is a statement frm a failed departmt (or ministry). Imagine this kind of statement from the people tagged as professionals.
— All About Chelsea 💙🇬🇧🇳🇬🇺🇸🇿🇦 (@OkybayTimmy) October 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/myparkvega/status/917393051722682370
https://twitter.com/rapidstan1/status/917374779438653445
Your organisation can tweet about the scandal in NNPC but you can't respond to tweet about the @NnpcRecruitment. What a pity
— I come in peace (@3nityOlu) October 9, 2017
Then the Vice President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity tweeted this yesterday:
In response to media inquiries on NNPC joint venture financing, VP Osinbajo, as Ag President approved recommendations after due diligence…
— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) October 12, 2017
Read the thread. In the wake of another brewing scandal, Vice President Yemi Osibajo has since clarified that he only gave authorization for the procurement of two financing loans and not contracts. To find out more on the NNPC saga, read these tweets.
A man of the people
This week, American rapper, Eminem broke the internet with his BET Awards anti-Trump freestyle video titled Storm. In the rap freestyle, Eminem berated Donald Trump, the American President, for his responses to racism, the Las Vegas mass shooting and his other disrespectful comments. As expected, Eminem has been trending on social media ever since. Here’s how Nigerians reacted.
We need an Eminem in Nigeria
https://twitter.com/XANTAPLUS/status/918452139969695744
https://twitter.com/damosee/status/918764482981187584
Eminem has dissed Donald Trump. We are waiting for the Nigeria version for Muhammadu Buhari.
— #Swagboss gang# (@Donogbep) October 13, 2017
He’s one of us
Eminem is a real nigga.
He’s just a black man that was unfortunate to use Dove skin care and got lighter. He’s one of us.
— Trust-fund Daddy (@Yemzine) October 11, 2017
Don’t try this at home
Eminem dissed @realDonaldTrump nobody said anything about hate speech, but eh, try it in Nigeria, DSS might be paying u a visit
— Idowu Eniola (@Idcampus) October 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/jishaq1/status/918515271731695619
Eminem ripped into Trump and he's still walking free, Try that in Nigeria and your generations unborn will share of your life imprisonment
— ✗ oom✗ (@The_olutee) October 12, 2017
How the Nigeria DSS be waiting on the Nigerian Rapper who wants to pull an Eminem on Buhari pic.twitter.com/j9aAP7yFNm
— Benny© (@benny_spix) October 11, 2017
Since it was posted three days ago, the video earned over 25 million views on YouTube. Watch it here.
