President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed the nation for the first time following three months of medical leave in the UK.
In a televised speech, the 74-year-old president said he was “distressed” by calls for the dissolution of Nigeria, urging Nigerians to come together but the president failed to disclose his illness.
What irked Nigerians most about the speech was what they deemed as the beginning of a systematic crackdown on Social Media.
If Buhari thought the broadcast would reassure Nigerians that normalcy would soon return he couldn’t have been more in-accurate as Twitter was flooded with criticisms of the president even from those who supported him initially.
I don't know what Y'all expected from the #PresidentialBroadcast . The youth own Social media. Lets use it in 2019
— TUNDE (@tundeakinsanmi) August 22, 2017
#resignandgohome #PresidentialBroadcast PMB = Pantaloon Mumumadeu Buhari. pic.twitter.com/Ryou7NvBP6
— Chuck Dim Kanu (@Oyangwabeefs) August 22, 2017
President Mohammed Buhari jst cm bck to renew hs Visa. Get ready his "Vacation" is jst bgun. #ActionFilm #GheenGhen #PresidentialBroadCast
— Henry Triiz Nsikak. (@HenryTriiz) August 22, 2017
After absence from duty for 105 days, your employee has the guts to walk up to you and offer a 5 minute explanation #PresidentialBroadcast
— Tweeter Active (@_Tweeteractive) August 21, 2017
#PresidentialBroadcast was as short as a confession of a dying Chiwetalu Agu in nollywood movie. Tnx God @MBuhari back safe and sound
— aunty ifeoma (@aunty_ifeoma) August 21, 2017
When ASUU representatives noticed that President Buhari didn't say anything about them in the #PresidentialBroadcast pic.twitter.com/ajFTd45HRN
— Demola (@uncleDemola) August 21, 2017
A speech once in 3 months wont stop the hate speeches, neither can it keep Nigeria united. We deserve more than this! #PresidentialBroadcast
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@Rouvafe) August 21, 2017
Buhari sounded like he’s angry with the social media forgetting that the social media brought him to power
#Presidentialbroadcast— Ghost (@IkhaloOmo) August 21, 2017
Tell Pre Buhari that Social Media is not Nigeria's problem. Tackle D Issue of Recession, Boko Haram, Asuu & Herdsmen#PresidentialBroadcast
— Osas Cruz (@OsasCruz) August 21, 2017
Tell Pre Buhari that Social Media is not Nigeria's problem. Tackle D Issue of Recession, Boko Haram, Asuu & Herdsmen#PresidentialBroadcast
— Osas Cruz (@OsasCruz) August 21, 2017
2 things were clear in d #PresidentialBroadcast. 1. They want to control Social Media so bad. 2. They refer to criticism as hate speech
— YOu SiP_RAiN (@WeSmokeCLouds) August 21, 2017
#PresidentialBroadcast Very unimpressive disjointed speech!!! pre-recorded &heavily edited!
6 minutes speech to explain 105 days absence!!!!— Tcee (@emmaikumeh) August 21, 2017
Let's be clear. The #PresidentialBroadcast wasn't to address important issues about governance. It was a warning to critics and agitators
— YOu SiP_RAiN (@WeSmokeCLouds) August 21, 2017
Everything baba said, we have heard before.
You for just tweet am
#PresidentialBroadcast— Ghost (@IkhaloOmo) August 21, 2017
Baba's speech lasted for 5minutes addressing *one Nigeria* and *fight against corruption* then *he's glad to be home* #presidentialbroadcast
— EL-NOVIO (@_novio_) August 21, 2017
So buhari forgot about ASUU and started vexing with the social media. smh
#PresidentialBroadcast— Ghost (@IkhaloOmo) August 21, 2017
How can the death decide for the living? even
the non living things are talking and making
laws for the living.
#PresidentialBroadcast— Chino Isaac (@chino_csi) August 22, 2017
It is a tarse, untasty and Unpresidential. Its only evokes the gory memories of Dictatorship era #PresidentialBroadcast #PresidentialSpeech
— Dadiyata (@dadiyata) August 21, 2017
The boss didn't need to make that speech.
We've heard all all that before. #PresidentialBroadcast— Alvin Ikpe (@Alvinattor) August 21, 2017
Sounded like a broken record to me #presidentialBroadcast
— Tornado (@HRH_klover) October 1, 2016