Nigerians on social media have criticized Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, and Deputy Governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, for kneeling before President Bola Tinubu during a visit to Aso Rock on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred when the duo, alongside key figures from the All Progressives Congress (APC) such as incumbent Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), paid a courtesy visit to present their certificates of return, did not sit well with many social media users.
They questioned why a governor-elect would kneel before the president.
The delegation visited the President at Aso Rock after receiving their certificates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
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Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished a distant third with 22,761 votes.
Okpebholo was declared the winner of Saturday’s governorship election despite protests from PDP supporters, who argued that the results were fabricated and did not reflect the true will of the people.
Demonstrations erupted in parts of the state capital and outside the heavily guarded INEC collation centre.
Earlier, Governor Obaseki had stormed the centre to protest the exclusion of PDP agents but was escorted out by armed security personnel.
At the collation centre, PDP agent Tony Iyoha called for the suspension of the entire election, citing alleged irregularities. Similarly, the PDP state chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, pointed out discrepancies between figures on the EC8 form and those on INEC’s IReV platform.
The PDP Governors’ Forum also urged INEC to respect the will of Edo voters, alleging widespread electoral malpractices.
Led by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, the PDP governors questioned the accuracy of some announced results, stating they did not match those on the IReV platform.
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A video posted on the X account of Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, captured the moment Okpebholo and Idahosa bent the knee while shaking hands with Tinubu. The gesture sparked widespread reactions online.
Accompanying the video, @DOlusegun wrote:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Progressive Governors Forum, and the Governor-Elect and Deputy-Governor Elect at the State House after they came to present him their Certificates of Return at the Presidential Villa.”
The video ignited diverse opinions, with many expressing disapproval.
One user, @OurFavOnlineDoc, tweeted:
“In 2024, in an alleged democracy, a governor-elect is sprawling before the president like this is a monarchy. Anyway, this is not a democracy. This is something else we are doing. This looks like an empire where slaves must kiss the ring of the supreme leader.”
Other reactions followed:
“What a demeaning sight? A man is practically being worshipped as President. Agonizing times. I weep for my country.” – @Unnamani1
“Why are people still kneeling in this modern age? In a government where officials are elected to serve? A handshake is enough. Respect in politics means nothing.” – @DipoSpeak
“It’s wild how we call it a democracy, but actions feel more like fealty to a ruler. The lines between governance and monarchy are blurring by the day.” – @IpayeFadeelah
“APC is on track to lead a one-party nation by 2027. Winning at all costs doesn’t mean you will deliver for the people.” – @flourish007
“There’s something fundamentally wrong with leadership in Nigeria. That’s why things will never change.” – @Gbengaajiboy
“At this point, I’m short of words. The impunity runs deeper than we ever imagined.” – @iamauxigen
See video below:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
Hmmnn Nigeria my country, I see no fault there, that is how it ought to be by our culture, is a sign of respect, Tinubu is the number one man of the nation and beside when follow his true age suppose to be a grand father to Monday. We should not mix Western culture to ours please but will not blame people criticizing Monday, when baba has reduce his age to almost Mondays age, that is a stop of respect