More Nigerians have criticised Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over a Twitter reply by her.
The former lawmaker had called a tweep ‘Ode’, a Yoruba word which translates to ‘fool’ in English, while responding to the Twitter user’s comments about her.
The whole saga began after Dabiri-Erewa posted a tweet responding to a video of Nigerian students being attacked at GD Geonka University in India.
‘Calm has returned to the campus. A few injuries were recorded, and further investigations are ongoing’, she tweeted.
‘The Nigerian mission had made it clear that the Indian authorities would be held responsible if anything happened to any of the students.
‘There is already a written commitment by the Indian authorities to protect our students. Any student feeling threatened should please report to the Nigerian mission in Delhi immediately’.
However, in the comment section, a tweep identified as @sensegiver1 wrote, ‘She should go to Indonesia and see how Nigerians are treated. Mumu [local slang for foolish] woman supporting a failed government. She’s equally part of the failure. Eye service’!
She should go to Indonesia and see how Nigerians are treated. Mumu woman supporting a failed government. She’s equally part of the failure. Eye service!
— Aggressively Obedient – Avoid me. (@sensegiver1) October 17, 2022
In her response, Dabiri-Erewa said, ‘Ode! You go to Indonesia, carry drugs, do cultism and come begging to be rescued from death sentence. Thank God for @ndlea_nigeria now saving people like you from death row’.
Ode! You go to Indonesia, carry drugs, do cultism and come begging to be rescued from death sentence . Thank God for @ndlea_nigeria now saving people like you from death row https://t.co/8xKqKayJTE
— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) October 17, 2022
Many Nigerian Twitter users have condemned the NIDCOM chairman for responding in such a manner as a government official and a diplomat; while others are full of her praises.
Also, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekweli, advised her to ‘clean up’ the ‘messy’ tweet.
Ezekwesili wrote, ‘Dear Abike, What is this? Kai. This is messy. Please clean it up. Quickly. Please’.
In her defence, Dabiri-Erewa wrote, ‘I’m not a public official that cows to bullying pls’.
I’m done on this . But out of respect for you , will ask, Clean what up? It’s okay for some untrained, uncouth guy to refer to me as “ mumu”, and I can’t call him “ ode”I’m not a public official that cows to bullying pls. https://t.co/iMl90BOdRN
— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) October 18, 2022
Freedom of expression
According to Section 39 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference.
Therefore, Dabiri-Erewa has a right to speak or give information.
However, what has been condemned is her choice of words in responding to the tweet which she (Dabiri-Erewa) felt insulted by. The question has been, is it right for a public official to tweet in that manner?
The essence of Twitter in public communication is to engage the public directly, but the ability to get feedback can go both ways, because feedback may be skeptical, it may be rude, and it may be persistent.
Conversations can get beyond what the original communicator had in mind; however, people are responsible for how they react to feedback.
‘Woto woto’ response
One thing is clear: the tweep insulted Dabiri-Erewa by that comment and that is condemnable.
However, in as much as the Nigerian constitution allows for freedom of expression, the NIDCOM boss ought not to have responded ‘woto woto’ (slang for ‘plenty’ or ‘in excess’) to the tweep.
Decorum
Also, that government appointees are open to public scrutiny does not mean citizens are free to scrutinise them with insults.
Citizens should learn to properly conduct themselves on social media platforms in order not to make comments that could incite violence.
Photo source: NIDCOM
