An attempt to venerate Former Military ruler, the late General Murtala Mohammed, on Twitter by Bashir Ahmed, Personal Assistant on New Media to the president, has backfired spectacularly as Nigerian youths attacked the late ruler accusing him of war crimes.
Ahmed had tweeted:
“Former Nigeria’s military leader, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed was assassinated on February 13, 1976, exactly 45 years today. A hero forever!”
But the youths would have none of it and responded with torrents of negative comments.
Austineabolade tweeted:
“How can insurrection be termed heroism? He participated in several coups, became Head of State and got killed by other coup plotters. That was not heroism.”
Onyedika Nwankwo said:
“He led the coup and seized power to evade trial and prosecution for war crimes and genocides. Unfortunately Karma caught up with him. In my opinion, he was only a sadist and not a hero. Tell the truth and stop changing the narratives! Asaba people will tell you more about him!”
With several other commenters referring to Asaba, the word soon became the number one trending topic.
Popular comedian, Bright Okpocha better known as Basketmouth retorted:
“Hero? For what exactly? The Asaba massacre?”
Jekwu tweeting with @jecks4sucess, wrote:
“In years to come this same people will call Buhari hero. Our children will be celebrating him, because they don’t teach history in school. Schools need to start teaching history in Nigeria. To avoid mistake again.”
KYNGSNEEZE wrote:
He is not a hero, we know our heroes. You guys can twist the history all you want, just like in years to come, someone will come and tag you a “Hero” and thunder will fire that unfortunate being”.
Sultan of Delta Tweeted:
“Sharrappppp…which hero?
A man that led soldiers to massacre thousands of innocent citizens in Asaba during the Biafra war?”
H.O.N. tweeting with @MrNosegbe wrote:
“My father escaped this man’s killer squad during the Asaba massacre in 1967 with nothing but the clothes on his back. Had he been killed, I would literally not be alive. May God punish you and everyone else who continue to venerate this war xxxx”.
Bashir has grown tired of responding to the comments.
