A hashtag- #IAmANigerianNotACriminal, trended on Twitter yesterday evening as a result of the comments of President Muhammadu Buhari in a recent interview with the Telegraph UK.
According to reports, the president was quoted to have advised Nigerians against seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, noting that the country’s reputation for criminality 'has made it hard for them to be accepted abroad.'
Buhari said the motivating factor behind the decision of some Nigerians to join the migrant exodus to Europe, were purely economical, and not necessarily because of the dangers associated with remaining in Nigeria.
The report quotes the President as saying: "Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking.
I don’t think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country. We have an image problem abroad and we are on our way to salvage that."
Just as we all expected, this statement generated a lot of criticism on social media, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, joined the critics and lashed out at the President over the generalizing and labelling of Nigerians as being involved in crime.
While stating on his Twitter page that he is not a criminal, the Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, said Nigerians are hardworking, honest people. Below are all his replies to Buhari.
Your own minister spent ₦80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal
Many dont know the import of that statement. It'll negatively affect your ability to get jobs & opportunity abroad #IAmANigerianNotACriminal
Mr. Foreign investor, please come invest in my country. Oh and by the way, my people have a reputation for crime #IAmANigerianNotACriminal
Bernie Madoff stole $50 Billion, the largest theft in the world. That doesn't make all Americans thieves! Dont generalize because of a few!
If you agree you are a criminal, who am I to disagree? But certainly in the case of my followers and I, he is lying!
Trust Nigerians, this hashtag has generated all kinds of controversy, you can follow all their trends here on twitter ... See below:
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