Garba Shehu, one the spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently under fire on micro-blogging website Twitter after issuing a statement described as reckless and insensitive by the Nigerian media and online activists.
He issued what should have been a Christmas greeting on Sunday, December 25, 2016. But it turned out to be a “dead end” message. He appeared to bypass Christmas, avoiding using the word, and went straight to talk about the year coming to an end.
“As the year 2016 comes to a dead end, I wish you a festive season and a Happier year ahead. Regards to your dear ones,” Mr. Shehu wrote on Twitter.
As the year 2016 comes to a dead end, I wish you a festive season and a Happier year ahead. Regards to your dear ones.
— Garba Shehu ?? (@GarShehu) December 25, 2016
Many Nigerians took issues with the presidential spokesperson’s choice of words. A good number tweeted about it and calling for him to delete the tweet and apologise.
what a reckless statement 'dead end' we sure have unserious men in serious places
— John Chun (@RealJohnChun) December 25, 2016
THE YEAR IS COMING TO A LIVING END FOR NIGERIA BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE!!!
— Ibim (@iamibim) December 25, 2016
Dead end? Haba Shehu!
— Maybeks (@Maybeks) December 25, 2016
this is ridiculous. On Christmas day you wish us a "festive season" as the year comes to a "dead end"??? Really??Shame on you Sir
— Arthur (@KingArthur9ja) December 25, 2016
the sad stock of Buhari's cabinet. Not surprised we are in a mess. Despite ur serial incompetence 2016 didn't come to a dead end
— Arákùnrin Mutiny⚓⚓⚓🔌🔌 (@Mutineer8961) December 25, 2016
'Dead End' really? DELETE your account sir!
— 𝕱𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖞_𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖊𝖑𝖘 ♑ (@FINTY187) December 25, 2016
A dead end? Kai mallam.Garba so this hardship was ochestrated? Can't you just merry Christmas? Gush…..
— John Chun (@RealJohnChun) December 25, 2016
Garba quietly controversial tweet after the backlash and replaced it with a new one.
As the year 2016 comes to an end, I wish you a festive season and a Happier year ahead. Regards to your dear ones. Merry Christmas 🎄
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) December 25, 2016
This didn’t go down well with a popular social media activist.
I am sure someone has a screen grab of your stupidity.
— E no concern you (@quesqueceevu) December 25, 2016
Commenting on the saga, Signal, an online newspaper wrote:
The Merriam-Webster dictionary of English defines the term “dead end” as “a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further” or in other terms, “a situation, plan, or way of doing something that leads to nothing further”. Connotatively or denotatively, the expression appears to evoke negative imagery.
Recall that President Buhari’s media aides have established a reputation of being insensitive, nasty and brutish with their comments on the plight of millions of suffering Nigerians.
In March 2016, Femi Adesina who is Mallam Shehu’s colleague as President Buhari’s Media and Publicity Adviser incurred the wrath of Nigerians when he suggested to them that they should hold vandals responsible for the energy crisis the nation is facing.
We think he is just challenged in the area of use of English. For someone who has spent close to 14 years working as a spokesperson to the most combative politician in Nigeria, it is no wonder he finds it hard to craft a message of good cheer.
Also noted is the fact that he avoiding using the word Christmas in his message, something that has become a thing for extremist Muslims of late.
https://twitter.com/DrZakirNaikFC/status/812991422949265408
