Netizens took Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila to tatters in the social media, on Friday for endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s plan to regulate social media amid the country’s economic crisis.
They excoriated Mr Gbajabiamila and his principal for not prioritising poverty alleviation, particularly when the cost of living crisis appeared dire.
Mr Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, February 8, said social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated.
Speaking at a book launch, Gbajabiamila said, “Social media has become a societal menace and must be regulated. As many people do not understand that once the send button is hit, there is a potential to reach millions of people around the world which is capable of causing a great danger not just in the society but even unintended consequences to the individuals that are receiving information which may include security of life.”
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This was as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, vowed to toughen libel and cyber bullying laws in response to the alleged campaign of calumny against his predecessor, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking during a press conference he held at the National Assembly Complex on Thursday, he stated that the House “intends to strengthen libel, slander, and defamation legislations in this regard”. Adding that those behind the campaign are ignorant of existing laws like the Criminal Code Act, Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and the Criminal Code.
“Those of us who have worked with him for over a decade can attest to his patriotism and integrity. His willingness to voluntarily subject himself to investigation by all security and law enforcement agencies demonstrates his rectitude and honour.
”I urge the security agencies to work diligently and swiftly to investigate all matters he has raised in his letter to them and inform Nigerians of their findings. If not found guilty, these agencies must fish out those responsible for the character assassination and ensure they are brought before the law,’’ Abbas noted.
However, some Nigerians in droves accused Mr Gbajabiamila of attempting to clip the same wings that brought him to power, and asked him to channel his focus on ending soaring inflation and the high rate of abductions in the nation.
Reacting via his X handle, skitmater and activist, Mr. Macaroni has taken to social media to tackle Gbajabiamila.
Macaroni shared tweets Gbajabiamila posted as far back as March 2014 in which he referred to the government of the day as ‘Vagabonds’ and ‘Barbarians.”
He asked if it social media wasn’t a menace then when Gbajabiamila used such terms on government officials.
Other users of X (formerly Twitter) jumped into the boat and hit the Chief of Staff as a mastermind of the plan to regulate the social media in the country.
“Femi Gbajabiamila seems to be tone deaf or just dancing to the tune of Baba Balablu. Inflation has reached its height figure in our history; hunger and starvation is (sic) everywhere, but the social media that millions of people use as an escape from the pure sadness that the APC government has caused is what they want to regulate again. Na thunder go fire all of una,” @BarcaPrincipal wrote on X Friday morning.
“So now Femi wants to regulate the same social media the APC used as a tool to destroy Goodluck Jonathan?” @sports_Doctor2 queried.
“And what exactly is the role of Femi Gbajabiamila? Is he aware he’s just the “Chief of Staff”, an appointed role? What’s with this “Imposter Syndrome? Social media must be regulated” my foot!!!”
Also, an X user, Comrade Abiyos Roni, wrote: “My message to Femi Gbajabiamila. Before regulating social media in Nigeria, I urge you to use the same energy to regulate poverty, unemployment, inflation, food security and foreign exchange.”
Another user, @UnlimitedEniola, wrote, “It was Desmond Elliot, now it’s Femi Gbajabiamila calling for social media regulation as if we are in Iran, Saudi Arabia or North Korea. Social media is not the problem but bad governance and poor leadership.”
Also criticising Mr Gbajabiamila’s call for social media regulation, @officialIkenna wrote, “SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM; he (Gbajabiamila) wants to clip the wings of the same social media that they used as a tool to get to where they are, face your work and leave social media. Stop misplacing your priorities. Do better.”
User @ChrisOkpokiri referred to Mr Gbajabiamila’s past in the U.S., where his law licence was revoked over corruption and ethical lapses that violated the rules of the American bar.
Rukky Nate on X upbraided the chief of staff for handling social media like an opposition party, asserting that he neglected pressing issues to favour social media regulation.
“The prices of this morning are no longer the prices of this evening. But Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Femi Gbajabiamila’s problem is how to gag and regulate social media — the only opposition party in Nigeria,” @Rukky_Nate wrote.
“Femi Gbajabiamila is more concerned with regulating social media. So social media is now the bandits? Or, those kidnappers in the country? Sigh,” @ChiksEricE opined.
