Nigerians on social media giant, X have reacted to the unique nickname of “Ebola Tinubu” given to Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu by protesters in Niger Republic.
The protesters, mostly youths ridiculed Tinubu with the nickname to express their discontent over his response to the recent coup in their country.
Recall that Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, 63, was kicked out of power on July 26th by his elite presidential guard in a coup widely condemned by the United States, European nations, the United Nations, and the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.
Tinubu, in his capacity as ECOWAS chairman, condemned the coup, stressing that the attempt by the military to seize power was unacceptable.
But, on July 28th, two days after the coup, Chief of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani declared himself the leader of the country after removing and detaining Bazoum.
ECOWAS, in response to the coup, slammed the country with sanctions, including enforcing a no-flight zone, maintaining that Bazoum remains the recognised president.
In addition to the sanctions, ECOWAS also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta in Niger, demanding a transfer of power back to the democratically elected government of Mohamed Bazoum.
The 15-member regional bloc, under Tinubu’s leadership, also invited all Chiefs of Defence Staff from member states for an emergency meeting in Abuja to strategise on implementing a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to power.
But, as predicted, the Defence Chiefs from Mali, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea shunned the meeting and threatened military alignment against any country that invades the Niger Republic.
Tinubu, on Thursday, August 3 dispatched a delegation to the Niger Republic with a mandate to resolve the current political impasse in the restive West African nation.
Despite these efforts, Nigeriens took to the streets with printed images of the Nigerian president, referring to him as “Ebola Tinubu,” and even portraying him sleeping at events.
They also mocked Tinubu with terms like “Precambrian fossil” and “illegitimate,” while expressing their frustration and anger over the stance of the ECOWAS bloc on the matter.
Taking to their respective X handles in reaction to the mockery of Tinubu, Nigerians appeared to approve of the ridiculing of the president.
Below are some reactions of Nigerians on X at the time of filing this report.
“I am disappointed that we are a country of over 200 million people and nobody came up with the name “Ebola Tinubu“?”
I am disappointed that we are a country of over 200million people and nobody came up with the name "Ebola Tinubu"?
🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— Ferdy (@Burmese_Tyga_) August 3, 2023
“It’s so painful and disgraceful how Niger youths beat us to the naming Ebola Tinubu. Like we had years and it only took them days to be creative with it. I’m pained.”
It's so painful and disgraceful how Niger youths beat us to the naming Ebola Tinubu.
Like we had years and it only took them days to be creative with it.
I'm pained. pic.twitter.com/XbCv4btsFu
— Malik (@Malik__kingg) August 3, 2023
“Nigerien youths to Ebola Tinubu: “come and beat us, we are in our country.”
https://twitter.com/General_Oluchi/status/1687246587125264384?t=BJzHWOJiDaulH2rxUkZO4w&s=19
“That video of Nigeriens cursing out Ebola Tinubu goes to show how much they detest illegitimacy. The whole of Africa doesn’t like him. The whole world knows he rigged himself into power. Nigerians and Nigeriens have rejected him. Our judiciary should do the right thing. Disqualify this illegal entity now!”
That video of Nigeriens cursing out Ebola Tinubu goes to show how much they detest illegitimacy
The whole of Africa doesn’t like him
The whole world knows he rigged himself into power
Nigerians and Nigeriens have rejected him
Our judiciary should do the right thing…
— Pearls (@MissPearls) August 3, 2023
“Not going to lie “Ebola Tinubu is mad creative. The Nigeriens did something.”
Not going to lie “Ebola Tinubu is mad creative. The Nigeriens did something
— OLA (@Horla_abiola) August 3, 2023
“All he needed was to live a free Life, enjoy his grandchildren, and happy old age. But the desperate ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria has changed everything! The drug case is now public knowledge, imagine Nigerians calling him Ebola Tinubu.
He cannot sleep & the insults are compounded. Some things are not worth it. God help us to be wise…
Not everything can be bought with money.”
All he needed was to live a free Life, enjoy his grandchildren and happy old age…
But the desperate ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria has changed everything!
The drug case is now public knowledge, imagine Nigerians calling him Ebola Tinubu…
He cannot sleep & the…
— H I I K Y A A T O R (@HiikyaaTor) August 4, 2023
“Ebola Tinubu? How come we never thought of that? It’s genius!”
Ebola Tinubu? How come we never thought of that? It’s genius!
— D A N N Y 🪂 (@AjeboDanny) August 3, 2023
“That madness wey dey worry Ebola Tinubu will soon be cured.
Nigeria judiciary what are you waiting for?”
That madness wey dey worry Ebola Tinubu will soon be cured.
Nigeria judiciary what are you waiting for?#TinubuMUSTbeDisqualified #TinubuIsACoupPlotter #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary pic.twitter.com/w6Bc7XPeno
— Madona 💎💎 (@madona1996) August 4, 2023
“Dear Nigerien Youths.. we the Nigerians are the banter lords. it’s so annoying you all beat us to this Ebola Tinubu trend! Hate to admit we never saw it coming.”
Dear Nigerien Youths.. we the Nigerians are the banter lords.. it’s so annoying you all beat us to this Ebola Tinubu trend! Hate to admit we never saw it coming.. pic.twitter.com/TNjbK4JoEB
— Okonkwo Kasopuru Israel (@OkonkwoKasopuru) August 4, 2023
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, secured the conviction of 10 internet fraudsters, better known as “Yahoo Boys” before Justice H. Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama Abuja.
EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday evening.