President
Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of the
#BringBackJonathan signs being used by his supporters for his second
term bid.
The
directive contained in a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Dr.
Reuben Abati, followed worldwide condemnation, with the United States
of America’s influential newspaper, Washington Post, describing the use
of the slogan as “galling.”
The
critics, including the Washington Post, queried the basis for parodying
the the rescue campaign slogan when Jonathan’s administration had failed
to rescue the girls from captivity.
But Abati, in his statement, said the signs were being used without President Jonathan’s knowledge or approval.
He said
the President had therefore ordered that the “offensive and repugnant”
signs and campaign banners bearing the slogan be immediately brought
down.
The
statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the
#BringBackJonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja which he and
many Nigerians find offensive and repugnant be brought down immediately.
“President
Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs which
were put up without his knowledge or approval are a highly insensitive
parody of the #BringBackOurGirls hash tag.
“While President Jonathan appreciates
the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range
of stakeholders, he condemns the #BringBackJonathan2015 signs which
appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for
the abducted Chibok girls.“The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.”
