Petition written by supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari intends to counter a similar one circulating online calling for his resignation or impeachment for violating court orders has gathered approximately 5,434 signatures in less than 24hours as of the time of publication against 2,232 signatures gathered by the petition against him in 4days.
The petition in support of President Buhari, started on iPetitions by Audu Bukarti, states that:
“Some political prostitutes and their clients have started an online petition calling on PMB to resign his office for their allegation that the president shown total lack of respect to Court Order when refused to release two high profile accused persons, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and the Biafran separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.”
Mr. Bukarti continues:
“This petition is a calculated attempt to demoralize our president and truncate his war against corruption in public offices.”
A December 31st petition written by Carol Ajie on Change.org, which calls for President Buhari’s resignation, has received approximately 2,224 supporters at the time of this publication. The petition argues that President Buhari has violated his oath of office because he has not discharged his duties faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution. The petition against President Buhari claims that “in holding Mr Kanu [detained by the Department of State Services] beyond the required period they have infracted on the Immigration Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and subsisting court orders.”
The Change.org petition asserts that:
“President Buhari [should] resign from office or face impeachment proceedings. Alternatively avoid another Burundi, call him to comply with the Orders of Courts.”
At the time of this publication the petition in support of President Buhari, which started on January 3rd 2016, has 5349 signatures
These dueling petitions are the latest form of online activism in Nigeria questioning the legitimacy and leadership of President Buhari. Online and social media have been critical of President Buhari’s treatment of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who was unlawfully arrested by agents of the Department of State Services (DSS). President Buhari has also been widely criticized for his many trips to foreign countries and the massacre of Shiite Muslims by the military in Zaria, Kaduna State.