Jonathan Orders Removal Of Offensive Campaign Banners

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of the Bring Back Jonathan Signs being used by his supporters to canvass a second term for him.
The directive which was contained in a statement by the Presidential Spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, followed a worldwide condemnation of the use of the slogan, which critics described as offensive and repugnant.
Leading the criticism, the United States of America’s influential newspaper, Washington Post in its editorial had described the use of the slogan as “galling”, noting that the BringBack Jonathan Sign was parodying the BringBack Jonathan sign was pardoying the BringBack Our Girls – the social media campaign used to nudge the world to the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram terrorists in April.
Like many Nigerians, the Washington Post, queried the basis for parodying the rescue campaign slogan when Jonathan’s administration had failed to secure the release of the school girls from captivity.
But Abati, in his statement, said the signs were being used without President Jonathan’s knowledge or approval.
The presidential spokesperson said the President had therefore ordered that the “offensive and repugnant” signs and campaign banners bearing the slogan be immediately removed.
The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the Bring Back Jonathan 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 #Bring Back Our Girls hash tag.
“While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a board range of stakeholders, he condemns the #Bring Back Jonathan 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”.