Those who supported the candidacy of the late novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe; former Head-of-State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, in the promo initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party on Facebook are currently leading the pack.
The PDP post on Facebook had stated, “ The Peoples Democratic Party is asking you to help search for the most patriotic Nigerian, whose selflessness inspired many Nigerians since independence and why?
“The person with the highest number of ‘likes’ on his/her comment will have dinner with a PDP state governor or minister of his choice. The promo ends at 6 pm on Saturday, May 15, 2013.”
While Nigerians were divided on the reason behind the promo and its relevance, Facebook fans of the party appeared to be in a rush to participate in the promo with a view to getting the benefits attached to it.
An information technology architect, Young Destiny, who nominated the late Achebe, is on his way to becoming the winner of the PDP’s Facebook promo. So far, his nomination has attracted over 100 Facebook likes.
Destiny described his nominee, who was often regarded as the father of modern African literature, as a man who brought immense fame and glory to his fatherland.
He noted on the PDP Facebook wall that despite the fact that Achebe had been in a wheelchair for more than 20 years, he had managed to write ‘There Was a Country’, which was his last book on earth.
“Today, this patriotic Nigerian is gone and deserves to be honoured, Professor Chinua Achebe is the man of the moment,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Musa Mikaya, who, according to information on his Facebook page, is a student, is rooting for the candidacy of Gowon. Mikaya says the retired general, who ruled the country from 1966 to 1975, deserves to be given the PDP award for championing the ‘One Nigeria’ cause.
“For championing the ‘One Nigeria’ cause, and initiating the Nigeria Pray Project. He does not only believes in one Nigeria, he also lives it. All his actions and statements in and out of office are geared toward ensuring that Nigeria remains one, united and proud nation,” Mikaya explains.
His nomination has so far attracted 60 likes, thus placing Mikaya in the second position in the contest.
Nonye Angela-Amaliri, who suggested Adeboye to the PDP, argued that the cleric had contributed immensely to the spiritual stability of the nation.
“He is an epitome of the detribalised and upright Nigerian who has continued to play key roles for the spiritual stability of the nation,” she said.
Angela-Amaliri wrote on her Facebook wall that she had nominated Adeboye as the most patriotic Nigerian in the on-going Nigerian Patriot search by the PDP. “He (Adeboye) deserves it,” he writes.
Angela-Amaliri, who works in a law firm, has attracted about 36 ‘likes’ for her comment on Facebook. With this, she occupies the third position in the race. So far the PDP’s promo which ends by mid-May has received 252 comments and more Nigerians seem to be keying into it.
But the question is: Will the family of Achebe who had twice rejected a national honour accept a post-humous award from the self-acclaimed biggest political party in Africa, if he eventually emerges the best choice of the party’s fans on Facebook?
From Punch
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