Tinubu commends Astha, chides social media bullies

The President-elect of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was recently named as one of the 100 most influential people of 2023 by Times Magazine has written to the reporter, Astha Rajvanshi.

Astha has been subjected to series of online bullying by some individuals who feel that the President-elect does not merit the nomination.

Validviewnetwork had earlier reported that Tinubu made the list alongside US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese in the leaders category.

The President-elect in a letter by the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, commended the Times Magazine reporter for her outstanding journalism.

“We write to convey our admiration and commendation of your outstanding journalism and uncommon devotion to the expansion of public knowledge, through well researched and balanced reports on important subjects and cultural trends.”

“We note your valiant contribution to topics such as human rights, climate change and social justice for marginalized groups and communities and how your reporting, alongside other journalistic efforts has stoked productive debate about those hugely important issues.”

On the social media attacks by supposed supporters of the Labour Party, Peter Obi against the reporter, Tinubu expressed sympathy over the development.

He noted that the mob constitutes only a tiny minority of Nigerians

“We wish to communicate our awareness and regret of the sad fact that your reporting on the matter has subjected you to various act of intimidation and abuse from partisan trolls in our country who remain implacably embittered about the outcome of the election because their preferred candidate lost.”

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“Indeed they have constitutes themselves as an illiberal, anti democratic mob, not unlike the delusional and violent thugs that stormed the US Capitol in a dangerous bid to prevent the peace transfer of power.”

“While we deeply sympathized with you over the sad and undeserved experience, please note that these individuals constitute a tiny minority of Nigerians.”