Nigerians decry president’s mother’s gift to varsity

There has been outrage on social media over the donation of 20 en-suite flats to the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, by the mother of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President’s mother, Mrs. Ayi Jonathan, had on August 9, donated two buildings containing the flats to the school at a ceremony attended by the President and some top government officials.

FUO is located at the president’s home town, Otuoke. Among the dignitaries present at the opening of the flats were;Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko; and Minister of Niger Delta Ministry, Mr. Peter Orubebe.

Since then, the event has been generating comments on social media with the majority of the commentators questioning the source of the money the President’s mother used in facilitating the project.

A former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, on his twitter handle @ dino_melaye wrote: “What does GEJ’s mother do? How did she raise the money? In a civilised country, she should be answering questions now.”

Post from @stchybyke-2007 replied Melaye’s:  “Her only work is being the mother of the president of Nigeria and my brother, it is extremely lucrative.”

A post from Glory Hunter stated, “When university students have been home for five weeks now, misplacement of priorities, God save Nigeria!”

Another commentator, Mckevin Omojasolo aimed a straight jibe at the President with the comment, “When you have a president who presides over the most corrupt government ever foisted on Nigeria, everything he does is suspect.”

Stephen Dieseruvwe also said, “In Nigeria, anything goes.” Another post from Omoka Francis read, “The only work she does is that she is the president’s mother.”

Surprisingly, the President’s media aides who often counter such comments on social media platforms kept mum.