On Friday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari granted an interview to Telegraph Newspaper in London in which he declared that Nigerians are known as criminals abroad and as such their asylum requests are denied.
“Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking,” Buhari told The Telegraph.
“I don’t think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country.”
RELATED: Buhari To Nigerians: ‘You Are Known As Criminals, Stop Seeking Asylum Abroad’
Nigerians have taken to social media websites to express outrage at a leader of the country demarketing Nigerians abroad. On Twitter, the hashtag #NigeriansAreNotCriminals began to trend after political leaders and citizens took to the micro-blogging website to condemn President Buhari for talking down to the citizens of the country while speaking with foreign press.
Here are some of the popular tweets on the topic.
I think Mr. President should be diplomatic in his approach to
questions. #NigeriansAreNotCriminals— Sen Ike Ekweremadu (@Ike_Ekweremadu) February 7, 2016
Nigerians who he calls Criminals generate the revenue PMB uses on his Foreign Trips where he bad mouths them.#NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— #TooBlessed (@Nelly21417) February 6, 2016
Even With El-Chapo as the Most Notorious Criminal on Earth, President of Mexico can Never Call Mexicans Criminals #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— OchinanWata 1 (@mr_ochonogor) February 7, 2016
#NigeriansAreNotCriminals
I am Adaobi Amadi
I am a Nigerian
I am a Chemistry Teacher
I work very hard for my money
I am not a criminal!— Her Royal Bossness (@I_am_BossMom) February 7, 2016
Your own minister spent ₦80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016
Mr. President, you once believed we weren’t criminals. When did you change your mind? #IAmANigerianNotACriminal pic.twitter.com/6XBqtCaq2R
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016
President @MBuhari, Nigerians are not criminals. Nigerians are honest hardworking people. #IAmANigerianNotACriminal. Retweet if you agree.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016
Only a clueless, brain dead President brands his Countrymen as Criminals..
I am Nigerian and I am proud to say #NigeriansAreNotCriminals— GOD BLESS MIMIKO⚡ (@RadicalYouthMan) February 7, 2016
#NigeriansAreNotCriminals I make my money legally! I am not a thief nor have any criminal record! This President is a Creche President
— #November18 (@LadiSpeaks) February 7, 2016
A Presidency that secretly altered figures of a budget it submitted in public is full of criminals but surely all #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— Opposition Figure (@Tomyboiz) February 7, 2016
#NigeriansAreNotCriminals We are only unfortunate to have a President that doesn’t respect the people who made him President
— KINDLY FOLLOW BACK✌ (@iRocPromotions) February 7, 2016
A good leader will always project a positive image for his people and choose his words well. PMB you goofed. #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— #TooBlessed (@Nelly21417) February 6, 2016
#NigeriansareNOTCriminals Fela is still relevant-My people are senseless, useless, indisciplined. Which kind talk be dat? Animal talk!
— Opeyemi Agbaje (@opeyemiagbaje) February 6, 2016
It is sad that a man who truncated democracy is now painting Nigerians black while enjoying democratic power #nigeriansarenotcriminals
— ‘Yemi Adebowale (@yemi_adebowale) February 6, 2016
Countries with the highest crime rate are:
1) USA; 2) Germany; 3) France; 4) Russia; 5) Italy#NigeriansAreNotCriminals 1/— The Oracle (@AbdulMahmud1) February 6, 2016
Top-5 foreigner-criminals in the UK:
1) Poles 2) Jamaicans 3) Irish 4) Somalis 5) Romanians #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
Source: Met, 2013 6/— The Oracle (@AbdulMahmud1) February 6, 2016
PMB says Nigerians are criminals. Are Nigerians in the UK criminals? Let’s look at Metropolitan Police stats#NigeriansAreNotCriminals
5/— The Oracle (@AbdulMahmud1) February 6, 2016
1. No CEO shows his company’s deficiencies to the world. He showcases the company’s strengths while silently fixing the issues from within.
— H.O.N. (@MrNosegbe) February 6, 2016
3. Buhari’s penchant for running his countrymen down abroad is hurting the country – and he needs to be told in very clear terms.
— H.O.N. (@MrNosegbe) February 6, 2016
If you agree you are a criminal, who am I to disagree? But certainly in the case of my followers and I, he is lying! pic.twitter.com/L6LyiBYVT9
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016
It takes a criminal to spot another criminal #NigeriansAreNotCriminals but if PMB insist then it should be #NigeriaLeadersAreCriminals
— precious (@Precious_MI) February 6, 2016
Mr. President seems to think himself more as a Moral Leader in the model of the Ayatollahs than a Political Leader of a 21st Century Country
— Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) February 6, 2016
Most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudi; did you ever hear the Saudi king pointing that out or bad-mouthing citizens because of that?
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) February 6, 2016
So I say to the diaspora public chanting Change- You have just been denied and labeled as Criminals by your very own Messiah. Beat that.
— SEGA l’éveilleur (@segalink) February 6, 2016
@segilolaa @AbdulMahmud1 U can’t claim 2 be wooing investors n tell d world dt ur citizens r demons. Action n reaction r equal n opposite
— Val Mario (@valexzky) February 6, 2016
@AbdulMahmud1 @abduidriskaiama anyone who rationalize this gaffe is a criminal. I AM NOT A CRIMINAL & i refuse to be scandalized as one
— tejumola (@tejuolaoye) February 6, 2016
There may be criminals in Nigeria, there are actually criminals all over the world. Mr President, #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— The SON of MAN (@olufemisp) February 6, 2016
I stand with #NigeriansAreNotCriminals ..Every Kobo I earn is legitimate.
My Government might be filled with rogues, I am not one of them.— GOD BLESS MIMIKO⚡ (@RadicalYouthMan) February 7, 2016
PMB: all of you are criminals
APC members: Sai baba ???#ApcMentality #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— Victor (@Houseofsharks) February 7, 2016
I think Mr President should know #NigeriansAreNotCriminals, Countries with the highest crime rate are USA; Germany; France; Russia & Italy.
— Ibrahim B. Babangida (@General_IBB) February 7, 2016
#NigeriansAreNotCriminals
What else do you expect from a president that governs from outside his country and have no idea why he is a leader— ¢нυкωυємєкα σвιє†²²™ (@SireObie22) February 7, 2016
Many Nigerians abroad are doing things, impacting positively to the development of mankind. #NigeriansAreNotCriminals.
— The Patriot (@9jaDNA) February 7, 2016
I’m more concerned with the youths trying to defend PMBs statement. There is really no hope ? #NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— Nwene Onu (@UncleDee99) February 7, 2016
Yes we have Criminals in Nigeria
Like D Ones who in Cold Blood Murdered 1000 Shia and tried to cover it up!#NigeriansAreNotCriminals Never!— AnthonyEhilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) February 7, 2016
Nigerians born after 1985..when next you hear APC-Sai Baba????????
He just called Y’all Armed Robbers…#NigeriansAreNotCriminals— Naija Berlusconi (@nestar41) February 7, 2016
Nigerians, realize that you are the WHALE and your POLITICIANS are the little Boat. #NigeriansAreNotCriminals pic.twitter.com/5TDGXDtMoV
— SEGA l’éveilleur (@segalink) February 7, 2016
The real criminality lie in those who run governance on immunity, have no respect for human rights nor ethic.#NigeriansAreNotCriminals
— Chief Ochiriozuaa1 (@Ochiriozuaa1) February 7, 2016
“Nigeria! Good People!! Great Nation!!!” RIP Prof. Dora Akunyili #NigeriansAreNotCriminals pic.twitter.com/454MWL6JlY
— Shantel Sweet (@SweetShantel) February 7, 2016
