Astha Rajvanshi, a journalist with TIME Magazine has locked her Twitter account after series of attacks from Nigerian tweeps over her report which includes the country’s “president-elect”, Bola Tinubu among 100 most influential people in the world.
Rajvanshi was slammed on social media for an article she wrote for Tinubu in which she portrayed Tinubu as a “longtime political power broker” and his efforts in helping to restore Nigeria’s democracy in 1999.
Many Nigerian Twitter users, mostly supporters of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, dubbed “Obidients,” chastised the writer for regarding Tinubu as one of the global powerful people despite allegations of corruption and drug case that marred his political career.
The tweeps claimed that the former Lagos Governor did not deserve the honour, given the ongoing controversies surrounding his election victory and his apparent role in the country’s economic woes.
One of them referred to her as a “useless stupid” woman, while another used a racist remark: “Indian buffoon” to describe the Mumbai writer.
As a result of the backlash, the author, Astha Rajvanshi, locked her Twitter account and has not publicly commented on the matter.
Despite the criticism, Tinubu’s supporters have hailed his inclusion on the list as proof of his leadership and political influence in Nigeria and around the world.
Japheth Joshua Omojuwa in his Twitter page said, “Astha has had to lock her account because supporters of @PeterObi are attacking her for writing the @TIME piece on @officialABAT. They are now exporting their fascism abroad. It is my hope that this headless mob will find a head soon, to channel their energy into productive ends.”
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari also said what Obi’s supporters did to Rajvanshi would eventually affect the reputation of Peter Obi at the global scene.
He said, “No matter how people see it, Peter Obi’s so-called supporters, the headless mob, are damaging him at home and abroad and making his chances slimmer daily. He may not see it now until they destroy him beyond redemption. As for us, politically, we love to see it. That’s politics!”
“I don’t know why Peter Obi supporters are angry because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu made the time list of 100 most influential persons in the world, are you people enemy of progress? Instead of you to advise Peter Obi to work hard so he will make the list in the future, you are hating,” another user, Omojadesola added.
