By Marvellous Nyang
Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has taken a swipe against a social critic, Aisha Yesufu, telling her to engage in serious discourse on social media instead of turning the social space into a platform for abusing people.
Akande was reacting on Saturday afternoon, to a post by Yesufu on her verified X account, formerly Twitter, where she rebuked former President Goodluck Jonathan over a statement attributed to him, saying, “Elections are over, we must move forward,” when he visited President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock on Friday.
Yesufu, a staunch follower of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who condemned Jonathan for his statement quoted the publication that reported him with her X account and tweeted: “Jonathan still sees himself as that child without shoes. Perfect example of law of the lid playing out.”
But reacting via his X account, Akande, who also quoted Yesufu, telling her that “Speaking truth to power” is “a key for a healthy democracy,” but “insults only weaken our critical messages.”
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Akande tweeted: “Dear @AishaYesufu speaking truth to power is key for healthy democracy. Having been on both sides, I know accountability is vital, but insults only weaken our critical messages. Let’s engage in serious discourse that fosters change because there are more serious issues to sort.”
This tweet by the former presidential aide has attracted other X users’ attention, who supported Akande in his subtle approach to bringing normalcy into public discussion, especially as he called for the need to address issues and not attack personalities.
One Adewunmi Collins said, “This is an intellectual response. Aisha isn’t used to this kind of response. She has always been a Twitter troll… Thank you Laolu Akande for this lecturing. We have a nation to build regardless of our political leanings.”
Another X user, Musa Jacob, commented, “One of our major problems in this country is that we ignore real issues for national progress, instead, we focus more on minors. In giving our views about issues we must not ignore our morals as a people no matter how frustrated we may be.”
Also, another X user, Funmi Peter, reacting to Akande’s statement to Yesufu said, “Indeed there are more serious issues at stake instead of bickering, insults and ranting. As pointed out by Mr Akande. Criticism is good when it is well stated.”
“You can clearly pass your message without insulting as Mr Laolu Akande has pointed out. Constructive criticism devoid of abuse is very much allowed,” another X user, Maxwell Jones, said.
