Chief of Army Staff Femi Gbajabiamila faced social media backlash on Friday after endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to regulate social media amid Nigeria’s economic crisis. The criticisms caused him to trend on Twitter, now known as X, for hours.
Netizens criticized Mr. Gbajabiamila and his principal for not prioritizing poverty alleviation, especially when the cost of living crisis seemed dire.
During a book launch on Thursday, Mr. Gbajabiamila described social media as a “societal menace” that must be regulated due to the “great danger” it posed.
In response, Nigerians accused Mr. Gbajabiamila of attempting to stifle the same platform that helped him gain power and urged him to focus on addressing soaring inflation and the high rate of abductions in the country.
“Femi Gbajabiamila seems to be tone-deaf or just dancing to the tune of Baba Balablu. Inflation has reached its highest figure in our history; hunger and starvation are everywhere, but they want to regulate social media again. Thunder will fire all of you,” @BarcaPrincipal wrote on X Friday morning.
“So now Femi wants to regulate the same social media the APC used as a tool to destroy Goodluck Jonathan?” @sports_Doctor2 questioned. “And what exactly is the role of Femi Gbajabiamila? Is he aware he’s just the ‘Chief of Staff,’ an appointed role? What’s with this ‘Imposter Syndrome? Social media must be regulated’ my foot!!!”
Comrade Abiyos Roni on X urged Mr. Gbajabiamila to prioritize regulating poverty, unemployment, inflation, food security, and foreign exchange before considering social media regulation.
Another user, @UnlimitedEniola, stated, “It was Desmond Elliot, now it’s Femi Gbajabiamila calling for social media regulation as if we are in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or North Korea. Social media is not the problem but bad governance and poor leadership.”
@officialIkenna criticized Mr. Gbajabiamila for wanting to regulate social media, stating, “SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM; he (Gbajabiamila) wants to clip the wings of the same social media that they used as a tool to get to where they are, face your work and leave social media. Stop misplacing your priorities. Do better.”
User @ChrisOkpokiri referred to Mr. Gbajabiamila’s past in the U.S., where his law license was revoked over corruption and ethical lapses that violated the rules of the American bar.
“What else do you expect from a criminal that escaped with clients’ money to Nigeria?” wrote user Okpokiri.
Rukky Nate on X criticized the chief of staff for handling social media like an opposition party, claiming that he neglected pressing issues to favor social media regulation.
“The prices of this morning are no longer the prices of this evening. But Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Femi Gbajabiamila’s problem is how to gag and regulate social media — the only opposition party in Nigeria,” @Rukky_Nate wrote.
“Femi Gbajabiamila is more concerned with regulating social media. So social media is now the bandits? Or those kidnappers in the country? Sigh,” @ChiksEricE opined.
Peoples Gazette