PDP’s Campaign on Facebook causes controversy

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday asked its fans on Facebook to help search for what it called the “Most Patriotic Nigerian.”

At 12:56pm on Wednesday, an update on the official page of the PDP, which has 10,416 fans, stated that the party was launching a promo for the search for the most patriotic Nigerian, dating back to the period the country attained independence in 1960. It explained that the party’s Facebook fan with the highest endorsement for his or her recommendation would be adequately compensated.

According to PDP, the winner will have the opportunity of having dinner with a sitting PDP governor or a member of the Federal Executive Council. It also added that the promo cum search would end by mid-May.

In fact, the PDP designed a banner and uploaded it on its page to show that it was serious with the initiative.

The Facebook post stated, “ Promo! Promo!! Promo!!! The Peoples Democratic Party is asking you to help search for the most patriotic Nigerian, whose selflessness inspired many Nigerians since independence and why?

“The person with the highest number of “likes” on his/her comment will have dinner with a PDP governor or minister of their choice. The promo ends 6:00pm on Saturday, May 15, 2013.”

No sooner had the party posted the message than comments from fans started pouring in. Names such as Obafemi Awolowo, the late Premier of the old Western Region; Ahmadu Bello, late premier of the old Northern region; Late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, late President Umaru Yar’Adua came up.

Others included former Heads-of-State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Muhammodu Buhari, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Prof. Wole Soyinka; and a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

However, some commenters nominated President Goodluck Jonathan. One of such Nigerians is Prince Ajijala Adeolu-Kenfills, who argues, ironically, that granting pardon to former Governor of Bayelsa State and self acclaimed Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, is enough reason for him (the President) to bag PDP’s ‘Most Patriotic Nigerian’ award.

Adeolu-Kenfills stated, “(He is) GoodluckJonathan, because he has done many good things to improve the lives of our people. He also freed Nigeria from corruption by granting his corrupt master (Alamieyeseigha) amnesty. He is the best President from the back, right from independence.He even deserves another term.”

A good number of fans of the PDP on the social network queried the party for introducing the search and promo, arguing that the initiative will have no meaningful impact on the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

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