- Jade Osiberu Faces Backlash Over Past Comments About Peter Obi as a resurfaced tweet from 2022 reignited controversy.
- Critics labeled her a “tribal bigot” for her previous comments during the presidential election.
- She defended herself by emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and respectful discourse.
- The incident sparked significant discussion on social media about political opinions and accountability conflicts.
Newsypeople – Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu recently became the center of controversy due to an old tweet about Peter Obi that resurfaced while she was voicing her criticisms of the current government.
The backlash commenced when Osiberu posted a lighthearted message on X (formerly Twitter) about her hectic schedule and social media habits.
However, this seemingly harmless tweet was met with backlash from users who recalled her prior comments during the 2023 presidential election campaign.
The Tweet That Sparked Outrage
On September 28, 2024, Jade Osiberu tweeted,
“My to-do list is ridiculously long, but what have I been doing all day? Scrolling through social media causes dopamine release. In the T-Pain economy?! Wonderful!”
What began as a playful remark quickly turned negative when a user named Orji brought up an earlier tweet from May 2022.
In that tweet, Osiberu had voiced doubts about Obi’s potential to improve Nigeria’s wealth, noting that, although she respected his integrity, she felt he was not the right person to boost the nation’s wealth.
The revival of this tweet led to accusations of bigotry directed at Osiberu, with critics branding her a “tribal bigot.” Orji’s pointed comment questioned her change in viewpoint, asking,
“Were you not the same tribal bigot who said during the election that he’s good at multiplying wealth while Peter Obi isn’t?”
This exchange sparked a heated debate online.
My to do list is mad long but what have I been doing all day? Social media dopamine scrolling. In T-pain’s economy?! Wonderful!
— Jade Osiberu (@jadeosiberu) September 28, 2024
Osiberu’s Response and Defense
In light of the backlash, Jade Osiberu stood firm in her defense. She responded with a series of tweets addressing her critics and clarifying her stance. She asserted that her earlier skepticism towards Obi should not be interpreted as bigotry.
“This is part of the critical thinking problem I was talking about yesterday. You idiots combed through my entire timeline and couldn’t find a tweet supporting the current administration but you found a tweet that isn’t in support of your messiah and I’m a bigot?!”
she stated.
Osiberu further elaborated on her views regarding political involvement, arguing that individuals should not be pressured into backing a particular candidate.
Instead, she promoted the idea of engaging in intellectual discourse and evidence-based discussions as methods of persuasion. In her defense, she referenced her film Gangs of Lagos, which critiques the ideologies of the All Progressive Congress (APC), indicating that her perspective is intricate and informed by her artistic work.
Reactions on Social Media
As anticipated, Osiberu’s responses did little to diminish the criticism; rather, they incited further discussion among users. Many continued to express their dissatisfaction with her previous statements and questioned her current criticisms of President Tinubu’s administration.
This situation underscored the complexities of public opinion in Nigeria’s politically charged atmosphere, particularly for public figures like Osiberu who balance artistic expression with political commentary.
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