By Oluwafemi Popoola and Kehinde Adeoye
Nigerian on Monday, March 21, 2022 vexedly reacted to the post made by one Farooq Kperogi, a self acclaimed Professor of Journalism, where he accused the country’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, of religious fundamentalism saying, “electing the VP in 2023 as President will cause a religious civil war from which Nigeria may not recover.”
Farooq Adamu Kperogi is a Nigerian and a former reporter and news editor of many Nigerian newspaper but now said to have American citizenship and lives in the United States.
In the said article titled, ’10 Reasons Osinbajo Will Ignite a Religious Civil War’ which he posted across his official social media accounts, summarily gave 10 reasons he felt Osinbajo is a religious fanatic.
Kperogi, in his appraisal of Osinbajo’s perceived 2023 presidential ambition alleged that “the RCCG memo that asked churches to actively support its members vying for political offices was inspired by the Vice President.
This is not Kperogi’s first attack on Osinbajo. He is one of Nigerians in the Diaspora, who has never hidden his disdain for President Buhari and his administration.
Farooq, had in April 17, 2021, accused the Vice President of an unsubstantiated “Christianisation Agenda” while calling him a religious fundamentalist because of the formation and appointments of aides in his close circle.
He said most of the VP’s staff are Yoruba and Christians, and most are members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
This was later debunked by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legal, Research and Compliance Matters, Balkisu Saidu, who gave out a long list of Northerners, other than Yoruba, working in the office at the VP, saying, “no less than 10 Yoruba Muslims were appointed to work for the Vice President including his next in command and the highest-ranking officer in the Vice President’s office, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. AbdurRahman Adeola Ipaye.”
ALSO READ: 2023: RCCG memo, Osinbajo and Kperogi’s parochialism
Reacting to the development on Twitter, a Nigerian responder said, “You are just a paid writer doing the bidding of your paymaster. If Buhari governs this country without religoius war, how can the Presidency of a more refine Osinbajo lead to war?
You are answering to you name #Digbolugi”
Others registered their disappointment and dissatisfaction at the piece stating that it was a means to poison the mind of Nigerians towards Osinbajo’s perceived 2023 ambition and his growing reputation among young Nigerians.
Here are other reactions of Nigerians below:
● https://twitter.com/ayo_ige/status/1505831015360733187?t=fr-S7xLHL7Ptwh3exx5kOQ&s=19
“No sense whatsoever in this.”
● https://twitter.com/DLoneWolf__/status/1505830997815930885?t=FHbcuWHTQrZAWucg1aAtsw&s=19
“After 8 years of the Islamization agenda. Ladies & Gentlemen we are disappointed to present to you the Christianization agenda.
It’s going to be an interesting road to 2023”
● https://twitter.com/daprincevolutio/status/1505830178420834306?t=H2DoT0tz4O1Rg-y-6TXCwA&s=19
“You are a religious fanatic who should not be allowed to infect Nigerians with your hatred.”
● https://twitter.com/BenFirima/status/1505829697120350213?t=Fe5UN8xRszXo97RPUCTDxg&s=19
“After reading this all I can say is this is exactly what it says it isn’t idle churlish oracular indulgence. Trash!”
● https://twitter.com/Ogabson__OOT/status/1505829370702802944?t=PTXorXMErYNmXTl1mgZpIg&s=19
“Folks.. We’ve moved from.. Islamization agenda to Christianization agenda..”
● https://twitter.com/Papa28x4/status/1505829175470575617?t=8x_nePrNHzfwVNjA2wv6Ow&s=19
“Will cause not even may cause? Lol
Prophet Farooq, nice work of fiction 👏”
● https://twitter.com/Alpha_Yom/status/1505827127232446469?t=EmDVSGSma06ugQJsrop-EQ&s=19
“You’re a dangerous man; very dangerous. @PoliceNG should take note of this criminal”
● https://twitter.com/KelechiPhD/status/1505827108458795011?t=SBUvFYwUgKVSGDYRakWOTw&s=19
“After your 2015 elections pro-Buhari stance where you deceived a lot of people, one would have been tricked to believe that you’ll be a bit humble this time around. Sadly, once a bigot, always a bigot.
Because of this article of lies, I’m inching closer to an Osinbajo Presidency”
● https://twitter.com/IfaladeO/status/1505825580041838598?t=UvDDfYalVdD79Rh019qqdw&s=19
“If electing Sharia exponent Buhari didn’t cause a civil war… you should dead this your agenda bro.”
● https://twitter.com/mojayzone/status/1505822777705705472?t=wbAR7Ooi2BCs-AK5aDET5g&s=19
“Dead Prof @farooqkperogi I can deduce from your write up that your religious fanaticism is deeply rooted and you are worse than what you accuse @ProfOsinbajo of. Period!”
● https://twitter.com/longfem/status/1505822663167688706?t=8CBG5qIrqM3TLjrFeitn1w&s=19
“You are just a paid writer doing the bidding of your paymaster. If Buhari govern this country without religoius war, how can the presidency of a more refine Osinbajo lead to war?
You are answering to you name #Digbolugi”
● https://twitter.com/mide_alli/status/1505822576601354241?t=7GoRVf-pATDIoHpTppwj9w&s=19
“@FBI @twitter and @PoliceNG should take note of those who instigate violence on Northern Nigeria. #Fakenews”
● https://twitter.com/Sirjaymed/status/1505822203065122820?t=pVV0-zS1leWQ4FOaxMRFtA&s=19
“As usual, Election sponsored writing has begin. No religious civil war will happen if he is elected abeg.
He has a right to contest and if he wins, so be it.”
● https://twitter.com/CHLemchi/status/1505821632371335169?t=LdTmpgIpTZQUfh5_p9-E6A&s=19
“I can’t believe Prof Farooq Kperogi will write something like this. I stopped at point 7. This is terrible.”
● https://twitter.com/OSO_Tee/status/1505819237092311046?t=5V2fikIwZuMj3SuccR2SpA&s=19
“How does your article contribute to a better Nigeria? Apart from the fact it’s a waste of precious 5 minutes of one’s life, it screams your religious bigotry and desire to see a religious civil war to happen in Nigeria – and the best way for you to incite that is to project it.”
● https://twitter.com/ACEcool101/status/1505817825843335172?t=N0EKSyidtaYLZFI2eaS9kA&s=19
“What are you trying to accomplish dear
@farooqkperogi
seems to me you’ve hidden motives showing face as 2023 draws closer. Again shows to the world that all this while you’re not who we all thought you to be”
● https://twitter.com/akejas4/status/1505817071300534272?t=SR60riKZgBzHQ__W616KTw&s=19
“This is one of the most stupid agendas I have seen all my life
WTF”
● https://twitter.com/Anjolaoluwa_1/status/1505813227401269248?t=pFeV-LwC4YFKzgbQX27bVg&s=19
“Your reasons are not convincing. It looks like you just want a war to happen. Prof Yemi Osinbajo has shown he is capable, we just have to come together and support him. And I’ll say it again, this religious civil war won’t happen if he is elected. Know this and know peace”
● https://twitter.com/iFemora/status/1505810730737623044?t=9zedPp9Bmt8y_CNRQFRnbA&s=19
“This guy doesn’t live in Nigeria but tries so hard to spread harmful narratives that can cause uprising in the country every election season. So distasteful🤮”
● https://twitter.com/AdesolaXX/status/1505807120071073792?t=dHRTOZhRcHlr0pJnyXPZPA&s=19
“The title is so stupid, you’ll have to be equally stupid to spend your Monday morning reading this!”
● https://twitter.com/IliyaEmaka/status/1505806400492126212?t=IjYhx7RG0PzaJmPLwPlLig&s=19
“Y’all see what I’ve been talking about, and to think this is one of the “educated” ones, after all we’ve through been under buhari no one started a war but now you’re pushing an agenda against other religions, with NO due respect YOU ARE MAD SIR”
