‘Don’t insult Jonathan on Facebook’

A group, the Niger Delta Youth Initiative for Positive Change, has appealed to Nigerian youths to desist from insulting the country’s President on Facebook and other social media.

The group said some Nigerians had taken delight in using abusive words against President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that such attitude was not common in other countries.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr. David Ato, who made this call while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday, explained that President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for Nigerians.

Ato stated that the President needed the support of Nigerians, including youths, to be able to deliver on his election promises.

He said people using abusive words against the President should realise that Jonathan did not create the economic and political problems facing the country.

Ato said, “The youth should desist from using abusive words against the President of the country. We should learn how to respect our leaders and we need to support him because we elected him into that office.

“Insulting him on Facebook and other social media is not the best. The truth is that Nigeria has been facing a lot of economic and political problems for a long time. President Jonathan did not create these problems.”

He, however, urged the President to begin to deliver on his election promises in 2013, adding that Nigerians were waiting anxiously to see the manifestation of his transformation agenda.

Ato, who expressed optimism that Nigerians would soon begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy, also charged Jonathan to address the problem of insecurity, especially in the northern part of the country.

He decried the continued onslaught against innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect, even as he called on Nigerians not to relent in praying for an end to the bomb attacks in the North.

He argued that the situation in the North was adversely affecting the image and economy of the country, adding that no investor would invest in a crisis-ridden environment.

Calling on security agents to relate with members of the public on security issues, Ato said such measure could help to improve intelligence gathering.