Thread by @The_Jonathanian

DISAPPOINTED!

I just noticed that I've been blocked by @AbdulMahmud01.

This makes me totally disappointed & sorry.

Sorry for an accomplished legal mind & poet, the one that styles himself as the Great Oracle.

Back in 2015 when I came on Twitter Mr Abdul Mahmoud was one of the compasses I used to navigate my way in these streets.

Then, he was still using his old handle which was probably suspended because, well this is twitter.

When he created @AbdulMahmud01, it was a joyous welcome.

Apart from pushing back on lies & negative narratives about @GEJonathan, I'm also here to learn as I consider myself an eternal learner.

There's so much to learn from The Great Oracle. I do commend his intellect, historical & legal perspectives but most importantly his civic, democratic & human rights activism.

I can't remember ever challenging his opinion these 4 years until just last week.

That challenge earned me The Great Oracle's block.
😂😂😂😂😂

I'm not a stranger to receiving blocks in these streets. I probably have enough blocks to build a mansion if twitter blocks were physical objects.

I received blocks because my truth make people uncomfortable. I don't want to sound like I'm always very nice.

Tell a lie, paint a false narrative or play a hypocrisy game & I'm going to bounce it back at you without fear or favour.

I must have ruffled a few feathers especially those of #Buharists, #Buharideens, #Ricevists and other mindless minions that castigate Goodluck Jonathan but sing Buhari praises. That's why these usual suspects blocked me since thy kingdom come:
@ogundamisi
@Ayourb
@Omojuwa
😂😂😂

I've received the blocks of people like @obyezeks because at some point, I did not spare her.

Am I bordered by anyone blocking me?

Wetin "consign" me?

I'm here to speak my own truth. If it's too hot for you to handle, too bad.

If I was wrong, I'll graciously apologise.

WHAT CONCERNS ME is that too many people, especially those with a measure of twitter clout choose to live in a bubble where their opinion is never to be challenged & their assertions never to be questioned.

Uncle, Aunty, either move your ass off twitter or you make your account private so that I don't get to see what you post.

If your account & post are public & I disagree with your position, I will probably respond with my counter & there's no guarantee that I will sound nice.

My ally & adversary @AishaYesufu always says something like "if you do anyhow, you'll see anyhow".

If you are a twitter influencer especially you belong to the Nigerian political twitter, you should begin to see your handle beyond yourself but rather as a public trust.

When @DonaldTrump blocked a few handles that vehemently challenged his idiocy, the American courts compelled him to unblock those individuals because of free speech.

There are many I follow, I respect & I interact with who I know that they do not hesitate to use the block button. It's their decision & their prerogative but I generally view it as an insufferable mentality of weak or proud souls who are not prepared to engage,...

...appreciate contrary opinion, or take the good seasoned hard knocks inherent in life.

That's probably why I rarely consider using my BLOCK button. There are folks whose only form of engagement with me is to insult & abuse like this @ebuddy clown.

Sometimes, I'm tempted to fight back one way or the other but mostly, I smile, ignore & move on. That is part of the game.

I can't be very critical of Buhari, sometimes in a very flowery language & expect I should be receiving only accolades.

Hard knocks comes with the game.

Remember that this tweet storm started with @AbdulMahmud01 blocking me? What was his reason? I guess it was because he said something I considered uncomplimentary about Igbo Leadership & I cautioned him.

He said in a tweet & I qoute

"Truth is: Igbos don't have leaders; they've traders! Without apologies".

I didn't stop to correct him.

I went ahead to write a thread about the true perspective of Igbo Leadership with the expectation to enlighten. Probably these things snapped a brittle ego.

#IgboLeadership

https://twitter.com/The_Jonathanian/status/1150033785741881345?s=19

I often wonder, if private citizens are this sensitive & can't take challenges to their opinion, how can they manage if they see themselves in powerful public offices? Ban twitter & social media?

Some of us may turn out worse than Buhari in tolerating free speech if they find themselves in #AsoRock.

Let me commend a few handles at this point.

Apart from the Great Oracle, there are many other twitter handles I interact with on almost daily bases.

These are handles I often read, reply, retweet or like their tweets.

These are handles I consider treasures because of the the encouragement & inspiration I receive, unique perspectives I gain & wealth of knowledge I draw from their tweets.

Such handles include:
@segalink
@cchukudebelu
@ChifeDr
@DemolaRewaju
@akaebube
@DrJoeAbah
@realFFK

Others include:

@is_salsu
@ShehuSani
@A_Salkida
@beegeaglesblog
@renoomokri
@AMADICHIMA
@henryshield
@HAHayatu
@NaijaFlyingDr
@zinadabo
@YemieFASH
@adeyanjudeji
@julietkego
@ChidiOdinkalu
@john_danfulani
@YarKafanchan
@gimbakakanda

& many too numerous to mention.

I love you guys, I cherish how I have learnt from you & wish to continue.

Nevertheless, any day you cross the line to my understanding, I will not spare you. If this makes you uncomfortable, BLOCK me now.

Before I end this, there's this one person I need to commend. I call her my ally & adversary.

Give her a punch & she gives you a combination of three in return.

I don't always agree with her views & I don't always like her ideas but I have tremendous respect for this one lady because despite our disagreements & tweet fights, she never considered using her block button.

I have found reasons to collaborate & support many issues she advocates for the common good.

Take a bow Mrs Aisha Yesufu @AishaYesufu

Just like you, I no send.

God bless y'all.