Another week has ended with lots of social media trends we can’t stop talking about. Lets get down to the ones that shook the whole of social media especially the arrest of Deji Adeyanju for leading a protest in Abuja.
Weeks after President Buhari issued a warning about minding what people post on social media, it seems the crackdown has started. During the week, the Nigerian police arrested Deji Adeyanju while leading a protest in Abuja and hours later, arraigned him in court for criminal defamation and breach of public peace.
https://twitter.com/UUN_Official/status/1068456778646659072
A section of Nigerian Tweeps saw it as impunity of government against a perceived opposition and took to their social media to react about his arrest.
Free Deji
Free Deji
Free Deji
Free Deji
Free Deji
Free Deji@PoliceNG
Free Deji@atiku @OfficialPDPNig @NGRSenate @YouthsForAtiku— MOHAMMED TAHIR DANLAWAN (@MohTahir_) November 30, 2018
The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Oby Ezekwesili, also condemned Deji’s arrest as well as the arrest of other protesters in strong terms and issued and ultimatum to the police for their release.
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.#FreeDejiNow#FreeDejiAdeyanju pic.twitter.com/JJ68VQPEkJ
— Adetutu Balogun, MBA (@Tutsy22) November 29, 2018
It was one of the most talked about trends during the week and for hours, the #FreeDejiNow hashtag trended.
President Muhammadu Buhari Visits injured Soldiers in Maiduguri
BREAKING: Buhari Arrives In Borno For Post-Boko Haram Attack Visit | Sahara Reporters
The President is expected to attend the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference holding in Maiduguri on Wednesday, and will declare the event open.
READ MORE: https://t.co/5DuXYA6A3W pic.twitter.com/njSYl9SpdE
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 28, 2018
Buhari‘s visit comes after a brutal attack by Boko Haram terrorists against men of the Nigerian Army in Metele, Borno State. The attack resulted in the death of over 100 soldiers.
Nigerians then took to social media to express their disgust and anger over the attack.
Thats how #FreeDejiNow and #FreeDejiAdeyanju is trending above their Maiduguri paid trend for Buhari and his hypocritical visit to Maiduguri
Typical self injurious nature of this govt!@PoliceNG thank you for helping us make @adeyanjudeji popular and trending pic.twitter.com/iHKKirASR9— Anthony Ehilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) November 28, 2018
Some people went on to compare Buhari’s visit to that of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s after a similar tragedy during his time.
https://twitter.com/geosportsnews5/status/1068211409320845313
We continue to appreciate Nigerian soldiers for their efforts to fight insurgency, as we condole with those who lost their loved ones. God bless Nigeria.
In other news, HelpMum, Vetsark and 2 other Civictech startups Emerge Winners of Google Impact Challenge Nigeria.
During the week, 4 Nigerian civil techs, HelpMum, VetSark, Cece Yara Foundation and Project Enable Africa emerged as winners of the Google impact Challenge Nigeria. The startups took home $250,000 in funding from the Nigerian edition of the challenge.
Congratulations to our 4 Nigeria winners; @officialvetsark, @cece_yara , @helpmumng and @Project_Enable.
We look forward to seeing the impact you make with your projects! #GICAfrica! pic.twitter.com/4PFKcwbbUo— Google in Africa (@googleafrica) November 28, 2018
Google Impact challenge Nigeria is a competition to find the most innovative, not-for-profit Nigerian organisations that make use of technology in new ways to solve societal challenges. Established by Google, the challenge received about 3,000 submissions but only 12 of those startups made it to the finals.
We are delighted at the winning startups. A very big congratulations to them.
Jubiliation As President Buhari Reduces The Cost Of JAMB and NECO Fees
President Muhammadu Buhari, during the week approved a reduction in the cost of JAMB and sundry forms. JAMB UTME form will now cost N3,500 instead of N5,000, while NECO form will drop from N11,350, to N9,850.
PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES REDUCTION IN JAMB , NECO FEES https://t.co/IMGtVJLek1 pic.twitter.com/WYXHZZFKNt
— Gist With Joy (@GistWith) November 30, 2018
The Minister of Education announced the decision after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting. Even with such welcome announcement some Nigerians were still not happy. They quickly took to social media to tackle the development, using ASUU’s ongoing strike as a reference point.
ASUU is still on strike😪. Leaders of tomorrow at home playing PS.
Tomorrow, youth would be unemployable and you'll cry foul.
Keep jumping about NECO and JAMB fee reductions.
We no longer value good education in Nigeria, sadly.
— Hamzat Lawal (The White Elephant🐘) (@HamzyCODE) November 30, 2018
People shouldn’t celebrate too loudly yet because the reductions won’t be in effect till January 2019. Until Nigerians actually start purchasing the forms at the reduced prices, let’s keep those fingers crossed.