by Yemi Adebowale | Breaking Times
Intense outrage in the Nigerian social media space greeted news of the appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman into the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee of Nigeria’s President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
Hadiza Bala Usman is the Founder of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign which was purportedly initiated to mobilise public support for the rescue of about 276 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok Town, Borno State, Nigeria on April 15, 2014.
The campaign, which has been criticized by observers for advancing the partisan interests of Nigeria’s incoming ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had one of its frontline activists, Nigeria’s former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili making the 2015 TIME 100 list for her advocacy efforts.
In 2014, Chief Audu Ogbeh, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) openly acknowledged the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as an offshoot of the All Progressive Congress (APC), a statement for which he later apologized after massive public criticism and outrage.
READ: Audu Ogbeh apologizes to BringBackOurGirls group
At the time, Dr. Ezekwesili had also frowned at Audu Ogbeh’s statement, declaring: “I am neither covertly or overtly a member of the APC, PDP or any other party. It is false and wrong to say @BBOG_Nigeria is led by members of the APC.”
But contrary to Dr. Ezekwesili’s assertion, Hadiza Bala Usman, Founder of #BringBackOurGirls is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a fact for which she has come under harsh public criticism against the background of her recent appointment by the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
“I have NEVER denied being a member of APC. I have been political and will always be political but standing up someone’s pain is in my DNA”, Ms. Usman declared via her Twitter page on Thursday.
I have NEVER denied being a member of APC. I have been political and will always be political but standing up someone's pain is in my DNA
— Hadiza Bala Usman (@hadizabalausman) April 23, 2015
Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their anger over her supposedly non-partisan role in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as Founder, and equally her new political appointment by President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari which betrays the partisan involvement of her campaign for the missing girls all along.
Any #BBOG leader who picks up appointment under PMB becomes a beneficiary of the pain of the Chibok girls and is as guilty as Boko Haram.
— 'Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) April 24, 2015
We care about our girls/sisters but using the medium for attainment of political height is hell no! #BBOG https://t.co/OzCqMDS5aV
— Popz Phamz (@famzycool) April 24, 2015
It's sickening that #BBOG campaigners were in APC and are now riding on the Chibok girls to get appointments @hadizabalausman @obyezeks
— Chloe W. Bassey (@ChloeWBassey) April 24, 2015
Now that @BBOG_Nigeria founders are getting rewarded by @MBuhari with appointments, they should hand it over to real concerned Nigerians!
— Oche Daniel (@LordPuzo) April 24, 2015
Lol funny they are admitting now they've been affiliated with APC from the start of the BBOG campaign. Someone insulted me when I said so.
— kby-w (@TheeBibbs) April 24, 2015
Congratulations on your appointment! I'm glad I left BBOG! Malala must now wonder why she supported that scam! #BBOG pic.twitter.com/tQPTjlhloy
— obasi (@ObasiNdubisi) April 24, 2015
From the beginning I knew BBOG was sponsored by the APC. They denied. They insulted us. Now the truth is coming out. Evil conspiracy.
— Timon Tete (@T3official) April 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/ELLYEVE/status/591593675207114752
Some 'hard work' comes with bountiful reward. @hadizabalausman used BBOG to 'dethrone' GEJ govt. That's HARD WORK! And she jst got rewarded.
— Maybeks (@Maybeks) April 24, 2015
Now that the #BBOG campaigners are being appointed into Buhari's govt, what happens to the campaign? Or are the girls back?
— Ben (@stbenjaminA) April 24, 2015
Nigerians should wait and see how many positions Buhari will soon give #BBOG campaigners in appreciation of a job well done.
— Ben (@stbenjaminA) April 24, 2015
folks it becomes clear that these people cared very little about Chibok or the abducted girls but were only interested in themselves.
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) April 24, 2015
Hadiza Bala Usman, Buhari, APC are all shameless.
They make me sick to my stomach
Now discerning Nigerians should know that the #BBOG was a hoax to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan and the actors are getting rewarded for their dirty job!