President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesdayordered the immediate removal of the#BringBackJonathan signs

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday
ordered the immediate removal of the
#BringBackJonathan signs being used by his
supporters for his second term bid.
The directive, contained in a statement by the
presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati,
followed worldwide condemnation, with the United
States of America’s influential newspaper,
Washington Post, describing the use of the slogan
as “galling.”

Like many Nigerians, the Washington Post in its
editorial, noted that the #BringBackJonathan sign
was parodying the #BrinBackOurGirls – the social
media campaign used to nudge the world to the
abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok,
Borno State, by the Boko Haram terrorist group in
April.
The critics, including the Washington Post,
queried the basis for parodying the rescue
campaign slogan when Jonathan’s administration
had failed to rescue the girls from captivity.
But Abati, in his statement, said the signs were
being used without President Jonathan’s
knowledge or approval.
He said the President had therefore ordered that
the “offensive and repugnant” signs and campaign
banners bearing the slogan be immediately
brought down.
The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan has directed that the
#BringBackJonathan 2015 signs and banners
around Abuja, which he and many Nigerians find
offensive and repugnant, be brought down
immediately.
“President Jonathan wholly shares the widely
expressed view that the signs, which were put up
without his knowledge or approval, are a highly
insensitive parody of the #BringBackOurGirls hash
tag.
“While President Jonathan appreciates the
enthusiastic show of support for his
administration by a broad range of stakeholders,
he condemns the #BringBackJonathan 2015
signs, which appear to make light of the very
serious national and global concern for the
abducted Chibok girls.
“The President assures all Nigerians and the
international community that his administration
remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the
abducted girls and that he will not knowingly
promote any actions that will fly in the face of the
seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their
families.”