IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Patience Jonathan trends on Twitter on Saturday, after a Federal University Dutse undergraduate, was arrested by the State Security Service over a Twitter post deemed defamatory against the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari.
In June, Aminu Adamu Muhammed tweeted that Aisha Buhari had suddenly added massive weight after taking part in plundering the nation’s meagre resources as the masses endured hardship under her husband’s brutal regime.
He tweeted: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi”, which could be translated as “the mother has gotten fatter by eating masses’ money.”
Muhammed’s friends said he made the post because he was frustrated about the prolonged strike by universities across the country which started in early 2022, and ended last month after nine months.
A family source said the 23-year-old student, was picked up by officers on 8 November, on the campus ground of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa.
The student was reportedly subjected to severe beating by the officers following his arrest at about 12:00 noon.
He was later transferred to Abuja and was briefly allowed to contact his father Adamu Shalele Azare about his location, but almost three weeks later, he is yet to return home to his family.
Since the news went viral in social media, Nigerians have criticized the First Lady for oppressing Aminu and compared her to Patience Jonathan who didn’t arrest trolls despite being severely criticized during her husband’s administration.
@Daniel_Nduka wrote: “Patience Jonathan was called all sort of names. Can’t remember anyone arrested. But Nigerians prefer this style of leadership.”
“The people in power today sponsored everything vile against Patience Jonathan. I’m yet to see any of them in prison or beaten by the DSS.
“I want to believe it is a rumour. Did Aisha Buhari truly have a student beaten up because he criticized her?” @novieverest tweeted.
@JayB on his part tweeted: “When we were telling these kids to decrease the volume of their disrespect, they thought we were hating. Whatever you dish out is being monitored and watched closely here. No mother deserves this form of disrespect. May you regain you freedom quicker than expected @aminullahie.”
@MrOdanz however stated that people in power oppressing ordinary citizens, didn’t begin with Aisha Buhari.
According to him, Patience Jonathan who is being praised also jailed one Shola.
“I understand your point and it is flawed and disappointing. You should condemn the abuse of power of Patience Jonathan in unlawfully jailing Shola. Same way you should condemn that of Aisha Buhari. Not advising people on what to post on social media. Stop encouraging tyranny.”
A tweep, @Rahiimiiya said before actions can be taken to set Aminu free, the first step is to know where he is.
“FREEDOM OF SPEECH🤷♂️
“Before we even rise the voice about the issue of @aminullahie let us know where he is first! Cos non of us know the exactly where he is, but if it’s true that Aisha buhari, her kids or anything gov’t of Nig. caught this guy cos of that tweet!
“It’s a shame and big slap on their face. And this is inhumane, disrespectful and inappropriate way of leadership. By the way everybody know that there is a freedom of speech on Twitter and twitter is not for anybody in Nigeria. Kindly leave this boy a lone.🤷♂️🙏”
Jabari on his part said: “Not one of the two people who slapped the French President, Emmanuel Macron, have been mysteriously taken away in the middle of the night. And despite the numerous comments on Patience Jonathan’s body, people didn’t disappear because of it.”
@Habletic_fc said one Shola who defamed Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Patience was also whisked away for month.
“Maybe it’s selective amnesia but if you’ve been on this space this past years, you’d remember why @itsShola was whisked away 2/3 years ago.
“He made a joke about Patience Jonathan and was whisked away for months.
@ogunbiyiseyi replied @Habletic_fc: “Nothing like amnesia. He made a parody twitter account of the president. This is something that is frowned at even in the advanced nations. He didn’t go missing that’s the point, he returned home.”
@ngcelebrity tweeted: “Imagine if Patience Jonathan and Goodluck was arresting you APC miscreants for all your abuses. Hypocrites.”
@adetayobishop compared what Patience Jonathan did when she was defamed as the First Lady to Aisha Buhari reaction.
“Life! Patience Jonathan was mocked, abused, insulted, cursed, etc.
“She went on a live TV and cried when Chibok girls were abducted, she was still cursed for it, nobody was arrested.
“See what Aisha Buhari is doing fgs🤦♂️🤦♂️, This woman ehn”
@athanwilson on his part called for Aminu’s release.
He tweeted: “Aminu is in detention for more than 168hours, which is purely against the 1999 constitution. We said the worst to Patience Jonathan but no one was sent to prison. Just few Arewa brothers will call for his release, coz of what?? We’re in love with our oppressors!”
@Mukhtar said freedom of speech doesn’t give anyone the right to defame anyone’s character.
“Despite the provision for the freedom of speech in Nigeria, it doesn’t give anyone the right to defame anyone’s character irrespective of their position or political affiliation.
“If it’s true that Aminu is in their captivity and being treated in a gruesome manner then their action towards this have crossed the line of humanity they should please release him.
“We should still mindful of what we utter, tweet or post as we’ll be held accountable to whatever we do on the judgment day even if we go Scott-free in this world.”