Presidency disables comments to Buhari’s tweet, and the net goes wild

No comment, no reply, except when mentioned

Nigerians on Twitter are reacting to the decision of the presidency to lock the comment section of a particular Tweet on President Buhari’s official handle.

The president on Wednesday tweeted about the commissioning of the standard gauge railway line from Itakpe to Warri via the steel town complex of Ajaokuta.

• Buhari Commissions Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail, To Link Abuja
• Nigeria@60: We Are Greater Together, Says Buhari

“Yesterday I had the honour of commissioning the standard gauge railway line from Itakpe to Warri, via the steel town complex of Ajaokuta, an important link for Nigeria’s economy, as the Central rail line. Yet another demonstration of our commitment to infrastructure revival.

“We have approved an extension of this line from Itakpe to Abuja, thereby connecting the Northern part of the country, and also a southwards extension to link the Warri Ports. We will continue to connect people across cultural divides and expand the frontiers of trade & commerce.”

Yesterday I had the honour of commissioning the standard gauge railway line from Itakpe to Warri, via the steel town complex of Ajaokuta, an important link for Nigeria’s economy, as the Central rail line. Yet another demonstration of our commitment to infrastructure revival.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) September 30, 2020

However, the comments section of the tweets above have been locked, making it impossible for Nigerians to share their thoughts about the commissioning of the railway line.

He should be held accountable

Some Nigerians on Twitter have kicked against the decision to lock the comment section and want the president to be held accountable to his deeds.

That is one feature @jack shouldn’t have introduced to twitter, leaders deserve to be challenged on policy and matters that affect the citizens of their country.

— ABDU. (@abdulmuminumar3) September 30, 2020

Yet we were taught that feedback and constructive criticism is a strategic way to grow your brand.

— Ephraim Evezi (@evezi_ephraim) October 1, 2020

President Buhari has made himself a name for not listening. He’s now disabled replies to his tweets.

A president thrusting his fingers in his ears because he doesn’t want to hear his constituency out.

What a democracy. https://t.co/sCEKVIS84u

— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) September 30, 2020

You can’t compare Buhari to Trump

Adding to the reactions, some  have said that President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t receive the kind of lashing Donald Trump receives but the latter has never locked his comments section.

@MBuhari doesn’t receive the stick Donald Trump receives, but the latter has never restricted replies – though being fair to Buhari, his lack of any cerebral tissue means that we cannot hold him to Trump’s standards or anyone with a double-digit IQ.

— Osato Corleone (@ReXkPiT) September 30, 2020

I follow back (ifbk)/Kindly follow back (kfb)

Others have however pointed out that the presidency’s decision to lock the comments section is a result of Nigerians who have in recent times spammed the comment section of any of President Buhari’s tweets with ”I follow back”, ”kindly follow”, “retweet my business”.

I won’t blame him for this. Many of us don’t engage in sensible discussions with our leaders on this app. It is always ifb nonsense. The disrespect is annoying.

— asjts (@asjts) October 1, 2020

Seems you didn’t see those obviously sponsored “I follow back” irritants.

— Accidental Librarian? (@EazyOwl26) September 30, 2020

I don’t blame Mr. President for that, if you notice his previous tweets everyone replies with “IFBK” which was out of hand.

Idan anbi ta barawo se abi ta me kaya

— M. S. Saye? (@mjay_saye) September 30, 2020

Our criticisms have been heard

And some say for the Presidency to lock the President’s official handle, they are rest assured that their criticisms have been heard.

This speaks volumes about how responsive (or not) our government has become. Ours is quick to extol the virtues of democracy when it suits it, but goes absolutely autocratic in the face of dissent.
One good take-away is, we can rest assured knowing our criticisms have been heard.

— A. Abdullah (@katchali) September 30, 2020