The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has deployed the use of major social networking sites, to worm his way into the hearts of the electorate.
The retired general had begun keeping up with the use of the social service with a view to attracting the support of the younger generation.
Although many online analysts might argue that Buhari registered his presence on social media late, his followership has begun growing in leaps and bounds.
Since he emerged the flag bearer of the opposition party, rarely a day goes by without a fresh update on his Facebook page. He now boasts a following of over 149,000 people who subscribe to his online posts.
However, Buhari’s online standing is a far cry from the influence President Goodluck Jonathan wields there. Jonathan, who signed up for Facebook in 2010, has a flowing of over 1.7m people.
But in his latest post following the emergence of his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari stated that he had begun settling down to strategise with the APC vice-presidential candidate in the build-up to the election.
The former head-of-state noted that he would create time to read through the comments and observations of his fans via his Facebook page, as he moves to dislodge Jonathan from Aso Rock in 2015.
“I take note of every comment, suggestion and feedback you give me. Please keep them coming. Thank you for your support,” Buhari wrote on Facebook.
The APC presidential candidate promised his Facebook fans that he would work with all Nigerians irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds to “help make our societies more compassionate, more just, and more equitable.”
He has also reached out to Nigerians suffering what he described as “senseless attacks” by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
“To my long-suffering fellow citizens who have borne the brunt of these almost daily senseless attacks, I say help is on the way. Terror must and will be defeated. All it requires is the political will, uncommon courage and unrelenting determination, and victory will be ours,” Buhari added on his Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Jonathan has yet to actively engage Nigerians via his Facebook account, like he did months preceding the 2011 general elections.
But in his recent engagement with his fans, Jonathan stated that he would not renege on his efforts aimed at making Nigeria a reference point in the comity of nations.
The President claimed that Nigeria was witnessing a revolution in the railway sector, adding that his administration’s desire to link the nation’s commercial and administrative capitals was receiving global affirmation.
“This forward march to progress will continue, with your cooperation, until Nigeria’s infrastructure, be they roads, schools, airports or hospitals, are listed as amongst the best in the world. And by God’s grace, this will happen in the not too distant future,” Jonathan stated on his Facebook page.
Jonathan explained that he had been humbled by his ratification as the sole presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
“I am humbled by this affirmation and, by the grace of God, I will never let you down even as I promise to build on the progress already made. May God bless you all and may He also bless our Motherland, Nigeria. Forward Nigeria!” he added.
Further checks online showed that no authentic social media accounts could be traced to Vice-President Nnamadi Sambo. But Osinbajo has since signed up for the micro-blogging service, posting his first tweet on December 10.
Although he has yet to react to his emergence as Buhari’s running mate online, the law professor hailed the retired general’s candidature when he was elected.
“I congratulate General Buhari on his victory at the primaries. That was well deserved. We see better days ahead,” he had stated following Buhari’s emergence.
Stating that he was looking forward to having a good time online, the former Lagos justice commissioner’s engagement with avid users of the micro-blogging service in the last eight days has earned him 5, 600 followers.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Kwara Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki, argued that the majority of the lawmakers who failed to win return tickets were those who placed “Jonathan above the nation.”
Saraki stated that he believed the lawmakers in the 7th Assembly could have done a better job, if they had been “a bit firmer and tougher” on their oversight functions.
“Hope senators coming in the 8th Assembly will learn from what is happening in the 7th assembly. Senators who put GEJ above the nation now have no return tickets,” Saraki said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Dear Buhari,could you please explain to us how you intend to change this your stand on terrorrism? Just last year you said any attack on boko haram was unfair and now you are promising ypu will wipe out terrorrosm if elected. Does this not mean you are the grand commander of the terrorists? HOMECOLUMNISTSNEWS POLITICSBUSINESSSPORTSOPINIONENTERTAINMENTHEALTHFEATURE
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NEWS ARCHIVE
PUNCH
Monday, June 3, 2013
Buhari faults crackdown on Boko Haram
by Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna
Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Buhari (retd),
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Presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 Presidential election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has frowned on the emergency rule in parts of the North. He alleged that innocent civilians were being killed in the states.
Buhari speaking during a Liberty FM Hausa Service Programme, Guest of the Week, on Sunday in Kaduna said that Boko Haram members were being killed and their houses demolished unlike the "special treatment" given to the Niger Delta militants by the Federal Government
Buhari, who also blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to tackle the security problems in the country, argued that the challenges started in the Niger Delta.
He said, "What is responsible for the security situation in the country is caused by the activities of Niger Delta militants.
"Every Nigerian that is familiar with happenings knows this. The Niger Delta militants started it all. What happened is that the governors of the Niger Delta at that time wanted to win their elections, so they recruited youths and gave guns and bullets to them to use against their opponents to win elections by force.
"After the elections, they asked the boys to return the guns, and the boys refused to do so. Because of that the allowance that was being given to them by the governors was stopped."
Buhari said his joining the proposed All Progressives Congress was not all about securing the party presidential ticket for the 2015 elections.
According to him, the formation of the APC and his joining the group is to help effect the needed change in the polity and not just about his presidential ambition.
He declared, "If APC fails to give me the ticket, I will remain in partisan politics and in the party. Anyone the party picks as its candidate, I will support him because I will remain in the APC."
Besides, Buhari noted that the problem of the country was that of bad leadership, which the APC was out to change.
Muslim muslim ticket,Aso Rock will become mashalashi and the return of rancadede.No matter how you try.a man cannot learn to dance a new step at old age .with all the 200 Osubanji or what put together.Islam is not compatible with democracy and that is what buhari is.a dictator.a die hard self righteous agent of change.and if Imay say ,change to what,old ways,or new ways
ReplyDelete@Nigerite: i wonder o
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