By Pascal Oparada
Social Media/Tech Reporter
The hashtag, #SnatchAndDie is buzzing on social media promoted by President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters who said he was right to issue threats to anyone who attempts to snatch ballot boxes on election day.
Buhari had said on Monday during a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in Abuja that he has directed the military and the police to deal ruthlessly with anyone caught snatching ballot boxers during the elections.
“I do not expect anybody to cause any disturbance. The security agencies have identified hot spots and flashpoints and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford.
“Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or leads thugs to disturb the process, maybe that will be the last unlawful action you will take.
“We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections,” Buhari said.
The statement caused a stir with many saying Buhari is encouraging jungle justice and extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.
They pointed out that there are enough provisions in the Electoral Act to punish election offenders.
Co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, Aisha Yesufu said, Buhari would have put an end to ballot box snatching if had signed the new electoral bill into law which makes card readers admissible in court.
“President Buhari @MBuhari could have put an end to ballot boxes snatching by signing the electoral bill and making the card reader admissible in court. He refused! Now he is being referred to as GMB! We need to get him back to GMB level when he was not President,” she said on Twitter.
But his supporters believe he is right because that would send a signal to those who want to foment trouble during the elections.
“Good one from our president. He has instiled confidence in the heart of voters that their votes will count and make a difference, and also instil fear and change of thought in the heart of political thugs,” one Kayode said.
Critics of Buhari said he is back as a military dictator and not as a democratically elected president who wants to respect the rule of law.
They created the hashtag, #ThisIsGMB to draw attention to Buhari’s former days as a military ruler when he was addressed as General Muhammadu Buhari.
