Nigerians have taken to social media to react to President Muhammadu Buhari’s interview that was aired by Arise TV on Monday.
The interview was first enmeshed in controversy when the presenter, Charles Aniagolu, disclosed that the president declined to appear in a live interview for the station’s ’90 Minutes with President Buhari’ and chose a recorded session instead.
“Straightaway, Mr Buhari declined to be interviewed live on camera by Arise News, preferring instead to hold a recorded session only with ThisDay newspaper. And so, the Board of Editors from ThisDay spent over an hour questioning the president about the substance of his major policy signature issues such as lapses in security, the fight against corruption, the economy, poverty alleviation and the infrastructure deficit,” Aniagolu said.
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However, Nigerians have taken to social media to discuss their take-away from the presidential interview, the first in 2019.
Read reactions monitored on Twitter:
If you are not paid to promote this failed government, and you somehow believe Buhari is good enough for another four years in office. What is your problem?#AriseInterview
— Brother Wale (@Ashiru_AO) January 8, 2019
Buhari said the govt is using technology to track Boko Haram. I ask him which technology is he using. Technology that cannot detect when BH wants to hit a military formation, or technology that cannot pinpoint the movement of insurgents. Baba is mad. #ariseinterview
— tiredNigerian (@DuruchibuzorE) January 8, 2019
#AriseInterview
The only reason I wanted @MBuhari in the first place was that, I thought corrupt ppl will get jailed and monies seized etc.
He failed In that, so I don't want him again.
— Nsidibe Essien (@tizzle1990) January 8, 2019
Buhari kept saying he is not afraid of the service chiefs and IGP, nobody ever suggested he was. Is there something he is hiding? #AriseInterview
— Amadi Collins (@Collynzo1) January 8, 2019
Take a listen to members of the panel that interviewed @MBuhari give an overview of the President's performance, including Arise TV/ThisDay Chairman, Nduka Obhiaghena.
Interesting words about the man/politician – Muhammadu Buhari. #AriseInterview pic.twitter.com/irby8BJDFq
— Bankole Akintunde Adebayo (@AdeBanqie) January 8, 2019
PDP folks rushing out to paint PDP wait given the shameful #AriseInterview by Mr. Incompetent. What many people are forgetting so soon is that PDP is as shitload as APC, same folks, they lend each other individuals, both enmeshed in godfatherism, corruption and lack of empathy
— Arya Stark'd (@justichidi) January 8, 2019
At the #AriseInterview, Buhari kept on asking his interviewers to "check the facts" of where Nigeria was as at 2015 and where Nigeria is today, before judging him.
See ehn, that Baba is not well o…
2015:
Petrol – N87
Rice – N7,500
Dollar – N198
FDI – Top in Africa… pic.twitter.com/xP8MVsigF4
— Prof Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) January 8, 2019
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So Buhari’s interview on #AriseInterview was prerecorded, edited and yet he still messed it up!!
Olodo na Olodo If you like open him head put the book inside!!
😂😂😂😂😂 You are arguing with figures, I have facts!! Really Mr President??? 😂😂😂
— KANAYO (@KANAYO_OAP) January 8, 2019
You people are just saying rubbish!! Why can you point out his statement one after the other? For your information @atiku is not an option…after all we have almost 70 aspirants.. Those of Una wey dey here na olodo una be. #AriseInterview
— Imani Adeniyi Olusola (@zimakoalice) January 8, 2019
The number of people killed in Benue & Taraba are not up to the number of people killed in Zamfara States. – @MBuhari
How can a president be saying this ? Are we comparing death toll now ?#AriseInterview
— Oiza, Anyawu ututu.🧚♀️ (@Steadi_lady) January 8, 2019
How exactly is Buhari running Nigeria? A man who can’t get one-on-one with journalists and give thought provoking interviews or call into a TV station and speak as president or gather journalists/reporters for media chat? How did we normalise this aberration? #AriseInterview
— ThankGod Ukachukwu (@kcnaija) January 8, 2019
Heartbreaking:
To see a chronic failure and incompetent old dude, on #AriseInterview– telling so much lies about the things, he is not even aware of.
Saying: inflation has gone down, how? Unrepentant daft.
Thousands slaughtered and this failure is comparing deaths by states.
— EA2 | Eddie O. Alegbe II (@eddie_alegbe) January 8, 2019
My attention has just been drawn to the fact the Buhari's interview on Arise TV was not LIVE.
The Lifeless FC Striker had everything put on the spot for him.
He still blew it away from the spot. #AriseInterview
— Ebube The Statesman (@akaebube) January 8, 2019
When ask why he claims Nigeria is food sufficient and we are still the poverty capital of the world Buhari said #AriseInterview pic.twitter.com/MZXEbGUH96
— king👑💎 (@Godblessbale) January 8, 2019
I watched that #AriseInterview and I can boldly tell you that President Buhari debated with himself and lost woefully.
I don’t know if it’s old age but man yen o bright rararara.
That man will not debate with Atiku.
— Oiza, Anyawu ututu.🧚♀️ (@Steadi_lady) January 8, 2019
I survived Buhari’s #AriseInterview
Please for the rest of you who did, you can like this tweet to let me know you are mentally and physically ok after witnessing that catastrophe.
— Ndi Kato (@YarKafanchan) January 8, 2019
Let him grant a LIVE interview. I am only interested in the upcoming debate. Let’s see how he will pre-record the debate and send to the debate studio #AriseInterview https://t.co/86mzXLdL7t
— ThankGod Ukachukwu (@kcnaija) January 8, 2019