Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the creation of a GoFundMe account to crowdsource legal fees for presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has vowed to challenge his loss in the February 23 presidential election.
According to information available on the GoFundMe account, a Washington, US-based fundraising team of volunteers set up the account on Tuesday, March 5 to allow Nigerians that voted massively for Atiku and running mate, Peter Obi “put our money where our votes went and deal a decisive blow against tyranny and rigging by donating freely to support the case against INEC and the ruling APC”.
The team set a target of $100,000 (app. N36 million) and has generated $997 donated by 20 people as at 12:25pm Nigerian time on Wednesday.
A socio-political activist, Segun ‘Sega’ Awosanya, took to Twitter to share details about the GoFundMe account on Wednesday.
He tweeted:
Here is the official GoFundMe link for people interested in supporting the defense of HE @atiku’s mandate in a credible Court of Law. You can donate here👉🏽 https://t.co/vwUrEAipop
— SEGA L'éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) March 6, 2019
However, many Nigerians took to social media to bash the decision to create the GoFundMe account.
They said that Atiku, being a billionaire, should be capable of funding his own legal battle.
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ediong/status/1103254565653278720
Really!? A GoFundMe page for Atiku to sue Buhari. Now this has to be a joke. 😂😂😂
— Nwamama 🦍 (@ify_nwa_mama) March 6, 2019
I think the GoFundMe set up to raise funds for @atiku's challenge of the presidential poll is out of place. How on earth do you willingly donate money to the same politicians who have stolen virtually everything from you. What's wrong with us? @Ayourb
— 'Diwúrà Adéríbigbé (@De_Catalyste) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/AburoLukaku/status/1103240802539581440
But why gofundme when this man is a multi billionaire
— 👑 Prince Oluwatosin | 247gvibes | Dot Media (@princetosin_) March 6, 2019
You have not paid your house rent but you are here begging struggling Nigerians to GoFundMe for a billionaire who has secured his next 10 generations
Your village jujumen are very strong pic.twitter.com/bzsKKAQpV9
— MaskUpNigeria (@iameneji) March 6, 2019
📸 Agbari nja. Opposition activits are getting very creative 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oya donate to @atiku legal defence team, click on the @gofundme page and drop your widows mite….. pic.twitter.com/vOcTRgmDFm
— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí (@ogundamisi) March 6, 2019
Dear @Segrlink ,
Atiku does not need a Gofundme from the masses to pursue a legal redress for his failed political misadventure.
Atiku is a billionaire for crying out loud, what is wrong with you?
— Demola Aliyu Adeniran (@Demurleigh) March 6, 2019
As though the dollars they received to market a thief to Nigerians isn't enough, they have opened a Gofundme Account to help Atiku raise money to challenge the Presidential elections in Courts.
Aiyemaniker o.
— Bankole Akintunde Adebayo (@AdeBanqie) March 6, 2019
You are posting gofundme to fund Atiku's election petition fees on twitter.
People that did not even vote in the first place.
That meins you wee sleep there.
— Fake Earpiece (@Mister_Judah) March 6, 2019
Instead of u to contribute to fake Gofundme Atiku , visit a Primary Mortgage Institution to be a National Housing Fund subscriber. Are u not tired of paying house rent ? The loan is there. Be patient. Within 6months , it will be approved. Use that money for ur own house
— Woye (@woye1) March 6, 2019
I want Atiku to get justice by all means, but that GoFundMe is not it. If u people are looking for who to dash money, edakun I want to pay my rent 😔😔😔😔😔
— Gift 🖤 (@Giftama_) March 6, 2019
I can't believe actual people ,
Human being with senses contributed to the gofundme atiku shit.
The man is a multi billionaire ,He needs no one help if he truly wants to go to court.
He needs no MF help financially.
Better reward if that fund me was redirected for Charity
— SÉNÀTÓR YÉNYÈN YÉN (@kayquequad) March 6, 2019
However, some Nigerians backed the decision to create the GoFundMe account, describing it as a form of protest against electoral malpractices, including rigging and violence.
They tweeted:
Buhari really wasted our resources; material and Human Resources; he has ruined many intellectuals.
They’re angry that well meaning Nigerians are donating to Atiku’s legal fees at the tribunal via Gofundme .
This is a form of protest against the sham elections! #IStandWithAtiku
— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/ehienabs/status/1103227823827890176
Read Also: Lagos Guber: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Not Backing Sanwo-Olu – President General
Leave a Reply