OBY Ezekwesili, former minister of education and pro-Buhari members on Monday exchanged banters over a trending picture of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The portrait, described as ‘Fiddling-Nero-type-picture’ by Ezekwesili was perceived as un-presidential and unworthy of public view.
Buhari was picking his teeth in the picture which has generated over 1,200 likes on Ezekwesili’s timeline.
That a Presidency @AsoRock and their allies found this unflattering “Fiddling-Nero-type-picture” of the @NGRPresident worthy of public view really does take their celebration of deadly Incompetence to a stratospheric realm.
But then, it really is Governance of tooth-picking???????? pic.twitter.com/OwIOUEyxlR— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) August 12, 2019
The President had earlier visited Daura, Katsina State for a nine-day official trip to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with family members. He was later joined by Prof. Alpha Conde, President of Guinea.
“That a Presidency @AsoRock and their allies found this unflattering ‘Fiddling-Nero-type-picture’ of the @NGRPresident worthy of public view really does take their celebration of deadly Incompetence to a stratospheric realm,” Ezekwesili tweeted.
“But then, it really is Governance of tooth-picking”.
She further condemned what she described as incompetence among political appointees and other officials of the current administration including the judiciary.
Nigerians react
Adebiyi Kayode @CallyKayode also condemned the picture. “This photo is all shades of wrong, I must confess.”
Emmanuel Ayomanor @e_ayomanor noted that the picture shouldn’t have appeared on the public. “That picture shouldn’t have come to the public. Surely you don’t understand what madam is implying. You should have just waka pass if you can’t comprehend. Thanks, madam for opening our eyes to seemingly obvious details. Much more GRACE.”
However, Buhari’s loyalists were quick to respond to the critic. Her picture of mild romantic gesture with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President resurfaced.
When Madam was in government. She enjoyed her public show of _____ with Obasanjo, but she doesn’t want Buhari to enjoy his own private life. pic.twitter.com/5RJ0UTZsKc
— Adetola A. Kehinde (IGBOMINA) (@Optimistic_Ade) August 12, 2019
Tunde Obadimeji @Tunde said the former minister was seeking relevance.
“This grammar and post are not popular and I think this woman has outlived d public space, therefore she should quit, park somewhere and rest.”
Igbabu Terese @teresematt faulted Ezekwesili for her criticism describing it as hatred. “So a President cannot pick his teeth again. This isn’t a criticism but hatred”.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at oadanikin@icirnigeria.org. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin