Pascal Oparada
Nigerians are bashing social media influencer and blogger, Japhet Omojuwa over a 2015 petition to Yale University to withdraw the doctorate then awarded to Okonjo-Iweala.
Although the petition was not written by Omojuwa, it was posted on his blog and he tweeted the link to his followers.
Omojuwa, then an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was running for the office of president, is being accused of allegedly lending his voice and platform to amplify the petition against Okonjo-Iweala.
Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the economy under President Goodluck Jonathan.
The petitioner, Sunday Iwalaiye, had asked Yale University to withdraw Okonjo-Iweala’s doctorate over what he called poor management of Nigeria’s economy and rising debt profile.
It seems like six years after, Nigerians are regurgitating Omojuwa’s tweet to taunt him as Okokojo-Iweala emerged as the Director-General World Trade Organisation.
One Twitter user said Omojuwa and others instigated hate speech against Okonjo-Iweala.
“SW BMC led by omojuwa wrote multiple petitions, also instigated hate and character assassination on the person of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In their usual hypocritical styles, they’ve jumped from their cradle to congratulate her and celebrate it as Nigeria win,” a Twitter user said.
Another said the likes of Omojuwa should hang their heads in shame after petitioning Yale against Okonjo-Iweala.
Omojuwa has denied writing the petition and staked $20,000 for anyone with proof that he wrote the petition to come forward.
“This petition I wrote against Okonjo-Iweala, how come you all have never ever posted any proof. You are renowned liars so your tweets won’t do. It’s been 6 years since this claim. Why hasn’t anyone shown one single proof? Even with $20k reward? This obsession ehn. Lol,” he tweeted.
