Outrage on Twitter ensues as Obi deletes tweet addressing Tinubu as president.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has faced severe criticism after deleting a tweet in which he addressed President Bola Tinubu as “Mr. President.” This move has generated negative reactions on social media, with many people faulting Obi for his actions.
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Obi, who is challenging President Tinubu’s declaration, had initially criticized the President’s convoy in the deleted tweet. He wrote, “Allegedly showing Mr. President moving with about a 120-car convoy. While I have not had the opportunity of seeing the said video, my advice remains consistent – that sacrifices for a better Nigeria must start from the leaders at all levels of government.”
Later, Obi deleted the tweet and posted a new one, replacing the mention of the “120-car convoy of ‘Mr. President‘” with “a trending motorcade video.” In the revised tweet, he wrote, “We can’t continue to preach for the people to sacrifice without sacrificing too. The sacrifices must now start from the leaders, visibly, and measurably at all times, because the people are suffering. We must now be at the forefront of addressing the suffering.”
Many social media users criticized Obi for succumbing to the pressure of his “supporters,” while others called him out for deleting the tweet. Former media aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Ahmad Bashir, condemned Obi’s action, expressing pity for him and questioning his lack of control and opinion.
Various Twitter users expressed their views on Obi’s tweet deletion. Some criticized him for frequently deleting tweets, suggesting that he either lacks foresight before approving them or his social media handler is irresponsible. Others highlighted Obi’s fear-driven deletion as a sign of his inability to stand on his own, claiming that he would have been a puppet if he had won the election. There were also comments advising him to be careful not to accidentally delete his entire Twitter handle.
In response to the backlash, Taiwo Ajakaye commented on Obi recreating the tweet to suit the demands of online mobs. Daniel Regha noted that Obi’s deletion of the tweet was unnecessary, as the presidential election tribunal is still ongoing, and it does not imply acknowledgement or admission of defeat. @Woye1 suggested that Obi should also delete another tweet concerning the housing deficit.
Overall, Obi’s deletion of the tweet addressing President Tinubu as “Mr. President” has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from various social media users.
