Femi Adesina, the spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, has come under fire on social media platforms, following his comment rebuking a Nigerian who solicited for a presidential media chat with Nigerians.
A caller, who identified himself as Mr Ibikunle, during a call-in session on a live programme on Nigeria Info FM, implored Mr Adesina to “encourage Mr President (Buhari) to come out and speak to us (Nigerians)” through a press chat.
READ ALSO: FG Makes Changes To Planned Evacuation Of Nigerians
Criticizing the caller on his position, Mr Adesina said:
I just want to encourage Mr Ibikunle not to continue to sound like a broken record.
When this COVID thing began, ‘president should talk to us, the president should talk to us,’ he has had three national broadcasts within a month, what else do they want? What else do they want?
People think because either you elected a president or you didn’t elect him, you must lead your president by the nose. It doesn’t happen.
Because you elected a man then you begin to order him around. The president would do whatever is good for the country any given time.
Since making the statement, several other Nigerians on social media have attacked the president’s image-maker, who also stated that the president’s speeches were pre-recorded.
They claimed that he is doing more harm to the image of the president than good, especially at a time when the government has lost its trust among the majority of Nigerians.
The call for a presidential chat follows concern by many Nigerians about the well-being of the president who has been absent in the public sphere.
For some, a media chat with the president provides relief and hope for the masses and an assurance that the Buhari-led government has the interest of the teeming population at hear.
Recall that the Minister of Transport and former governor of Cross River State, Rotimi Amaechi, recently came under criticism after he described President Buhari as a shy person.
Amaechi’s response also followed calls by some Nigerian to have a media parley with the president.
See video:
Mr Femi Adesina told Mr Ibikunle to 'stop sounding like a broken record'.
This is an insult on all Nigerians including Mr Ibikunle.
Mr Ibikunle was civil in asking his question but he got insult as answer.
This is very bad!— Mayowa Olagunju ❁ (@iam_doctormayor) May 6, 2020
📹"President Buhari Assumed Live Broadcast Was Pre-Recorded – Femi Adesina Admits @NigeriaGov Via @FemAdesina Finally Agrees That @MBuhari Purported Live Broadcast Was Pre-Recorded. Just Like @MaziNnamdiKanu Has Been Saying.#NewscastingPresident #TheZooCalledNigeria pic.twitter.com/RXxWXKK9tn
— Somto Okonkwo (@MrSomtoOkonkwo) May 6, 2020
