Newscenter Media News Nigerians on social media have taken turns to roast Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, for kneeling to greet President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday.
The controversial incident which happened when the duo, alongside top members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the state including incumbent deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), did not go down well with some social media users who questioned the rationale behind a governor-elect kneeling down before the president.
The duo had paid homage to the President at Aso Rock to present their certificates of return after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented them with their certificates at its headquarters in Abuja.
In a video posted on the X account of the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, Okpebholo and Idahosa can be seen bending the knee while shaking hands with Tinubu, an act which has drawn the ire of Netizens.
Accompanying the video, @DOlusegun wrote:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Progressive Governors Forum and the Governor-Elect and Deputy-Governor Elect at the State House after they came to present him their Certificate of Return at the Presidential Villa,” Olusegun captioned the video.
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The video however, drew different reactions from Nigerian social media users.
First to fire the salvo was a user with the handle @OurFavOnlineDoc who wrote:
“In 2024 in an alleged democracy, a governor-elect is going to sprawl before the president like this is a monarchy. Anyway this is not a democracy. This is something else we are doing.
This is looking like an empire that requires slaves to kiss the ring of the supreme leader.”
Others quickly followed suit:
“What a demeaning sight to behold? A man is now practically being worshipped as a President. What an agonizing time to be alive? I weep for my country.” – @Unnamani1
“Why are people still kneeling in this modern age in a government house where the people occupying the office were elected by the populace to serve everyone?
“I understand the they want to show respect and some can argue bowing is also showing too much respect but if that can fly, why going flat knees, a handshake is enough. After all some can still port or do anti-party after today. Respect in politics means nothing.” – @DipoSpeak
“It’s wild how we call it a democracy, but the actions feel more like fealty to a ruler… the lines between governance and monarchy are getting blurrier by the day… the kind of system are we really in!!” – @IpayeFadeelah
“Promise fulfilled. Time for some appreciation. APC is on track to lead a one-party nation by 2027. The opposition is practically non-existent. Winning at all costs doesn’t mean you will deliver for the people sadly.” – @flourish007
“There’s something fundamentally wrong with leadership in Nigeria. It’s why we are the way we are. And things will never change.” – @Gbengaajiboy
“At this point, I’m short of words, the impunity is deeper than we can ever imagine.” – @iamauxigen
…by Isaac Dachen and Ben Ugbana
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