Goodluck Jonathan.

His facebook name is Goodluck Jonathan. Mr. President joined facebook on June 28,2010. So far, he’s got more than 100,000 fans and still counting, out of more than 2 million Nigerians on facebook. When the president disclosed his intention to open a facebook account at the convocation service held at University of PortHarcourt, many had thought he would trivalize comments and come online once in three months, but the president has confounded critics as it looks like the president is getting addicted to facebook. It is as if Nigerian youths have been waiting for a time like this, when the president joins a social networking website to relate with youths, as thousands of comments and likes have been following his status updates. While some had shown antipathy towards President’s facebook decision (those possibly between the age range of 40 – 75), most Nigerian youths have been raining praise on the president for his action. Facebook extremists mainly advocating good governance, good power supply among others and questioning the president’s undisclosed intention to contest for president in the 2011 election. Mr. President claimed he has been taking notes of people’s comments on facebook, with many Nigerian followers bombarding president with questions, thousands rephrasing questions, enigmatic comments while the president sidestep such questions.

 We say thanks to Mark Zuckerberg for getting our president closer to us through his facebook. Goodluck Jonathan’s facebook page turned Nigerian youths’ facebook parliament has resulted into social interaction with the president. Making comments on the presidents’ status and wall might go a long way than you expected. So far, the president is claiming to have taken heed to two comments on his wall by two Nigerian youths, not only that, he claimed that the comments on his facebook wall had made him lift the ban on super eagles as he writes on tuesday 5:59am. ‘I read your comments and took them into account in the government’s decision to rescind the suspension of nigeria from international football. I had a meeting with the NFF today and conveyed my disappointment…….’

However, the two status updates made by the president on how he took heed to two Nigerian youths’ advice is quite eccentric and caught my attention and inspired several Nigerians. The first status read: ‘I want to assure you that your feedback and comments on this page are important. I read them and they have influenced government’s policy. On monday, a young Nigerian named Toukpe Onuwaje who is resident in California made a comment on this page expressing disappointment that though California has the 7th largest economy in the world Nigeria does not have a consulate there yet we maintain one in Atlanta, Georgia which has a smaller economy. This youth further informed me that Nigeria had a property in California which was abandoned in the 80s. Upon receipt of this information, I instructed the Nigerian ambassador to visit the property immediately and report back to me with a view to reopening our consulate in San Francisco, California. I am pleased to tell Tuokpe Onuwaje and all fans of this page that the visit was concluded today. I am also looking at other request made here and will within available resources and time take action or respond to your questions. Thank you. GEJ’ july 5 at 6:00am.

The second one read: ‘Again i spent time reading your comments and yesterday a youth named toyin dawodu indicated that he had an idea for a project that could deliver 4,000 MWs of electricity. I believe in the creativity and the spirit of innovation resident in our youth and i want to give Toyin Dawodu a chance to be heard. Toyin, someone from my office will make contact with you regarding your idea. I know i can not attend to every comment or suggestion due to time constraints, but please do know that i read them and they influence my actions. GEJ’

There’s a divide to several of this decision of the President. Some are asking: Is Mr. President really been responsive and how long would he be [if he decides to be a constant tab on his facebook comments for another four years, then we should prepare ourself for a president who would spend his time on his Blackberry while he is in a meeting defending a budget or with his state governors/cabinet member] and others feel it is a calculated attempt to win hearts for his 2011 presidential ambition. 

Ultimately, Mr. President’s presence on facebook is antidote to the poor communication with the youths.We hope to see other leaders in public office take turns joining facebook like Mr. President.

By Sonde Jimmy

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