ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Buhari’s adviser, firm pull out of social media panel

Social Media [Photo credit: Valu-Pass.com]

Buhari’s adviser, firm pull out of social media panel

bySamuel Ogundipe
October 27, 2016
3 min read

The decision by an aide to President Buhari and a consulting firm to withdraw participation from a social media gathering because of one of the personalities involved has sparked debates about sexual orientation in a highly conservative Nigeria.

While Bashir Ahmad, a special assistant to the president on new media, cited pressure from “friends and colleagues” for bowing out, Alder Consulting, a brand management agency, said Idris Okuneye, a Snapchat sensation also known as Bobrisky, embodies some personality traits that the management found highly objectionable.

Consequently, Alder Consulting said Subomi Plumptre, one of its staff scheduled to play a key role at the event, will no longer be available for his appearance slot on Thursday</span

Ms. Plumptre was billed to moderate a discussion, themed: Rights and Responsibilities, which will centre around marketing and social engagement in the age of new media.

But the firm said the appearance of Mr. Okuneye, who many believe is homosexual, would intensely vitiate the two-day event, which was organised by Enough Is Enough Nigeria, a social advocacy group.

“The inclusion of Bobrisky unfortunately sensationalises and radicalises what should otherwise be a serious discourse on new approaches to media,” Alder Consulting said.

On his part, Mr. Ahmad was scheduled to appear alongside Mr. Okuneye for the discussion, during which they are expected to illustrate how Nigerians could harness the rising new media inclusion for their social and economic advancement.

It is not immediately clear who first cancelled appearance between Mr. Bashir and Alder Consulting, but their decisions began circulating on social media shortly before noon on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES’ attempts to get Mr. Ahmad to expatiate on his decision fell through on Wednesday evening.

The development sparked instant outrage on social media, with ‘Bobrisky’ trending at number one on Twitter and Facebook for the most part of Wednesday.

Some critics said Alder Consulting’s action was borne out of an alleged intolerance of its management towards homosexuals.
Mr. Okuneye flatly denied being a gay, but said he’s a cross-dresser who spends exactly 48 minutes applying makeup for every outing.

Ayo Sogunro, a newspaper columnist and legal analyst, said the name-dropping by the ad agency was counterproductive.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

RelatedNews

VIDEO: How communal crisis set back my farming business – Susan Godwin

Nigeria migrates all mineral titles to digital canvas expecting revenue windfalls

COVID-19: Lagos intensifies public sensitisation on second wave

Tinubu denies testing positive for COVID-19

“As professionals, Bobrisky should be interesting data for Alder. As Christians, they should love. As Nigerians, they should be tolerant,” Mr. Sogunro said on Twitter.

“Alder has a right to reject an invite. But once they included Bobrisky’s person in the mix, they also put their own character into debate

Another Twitter user, Mukhtar Dan’Iyan, slammed the “sanctimonious” display by Alder Consulting and Mr. Ahmad, adding that Mr. Okuneye was a better addition to the panel.

“Some Nigerians are sanctimonious, is Bobrisky not a bona fide testament to the effective use of new media to effectively push a narrative?

“Whether one agrees with his philosophy or message, there’s no denying fact that as far as Nigeria’s new media space goes, he’s effective,” Mr. Dan’Iyan said.

Several others disagreed.

A Twitter user, @Her_Petiteness, said Mr. Okuneye’s sudden rise to fame might be fascinating, but she believed he would be a wrong role model for such an event.

“I’m not the least homophobic, but having Bobrisky as a speaker is taking things too far!” She said. “What is he teaching kids? That light skin is life?”

Similarly, Biola Kazeem, a sports analysts, said Mr. Okuneye did not work to achieve his fame on the Internet and, as such, should not be seen as a model.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Inviting Bobrisky to a serious panel about new media is same as inviting a lottery winner to a wealth creation discourse,” Mr. Kazeem said. “No difference.”

Mr. Okuneye is said to be the most famous Nigerian on Snapchat, a multimedia social networking platform. His activities on the platform attract about 22,000 people to his page daily.

Also known as Male Barbie amongst his avid followers, Mr. Okuneye’s emergence on Nigeria’s social media space has continued to draw attention from a larger audience.

But Mr. Okuneye is frequently left frustrated by conservative Nigerians who remained unconvinced that he’s not gay.

The critics said he’s hiding his sexual orientation to avoid running afoul of the country’s anti-homosexual laws.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was widely praised when he signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law in 2014.

Despite the unwavering scepticism of the West, Mr. Jonathan, who was voted out of office last year, said at an event in England earlier this week that Nigerians are not suffering discrimination as a result of his controversial action.

Mr. Okuneye did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for comments for this story.

The organisers said the event will go on as scheduled, adding that Nigerians were looking forward to learning more about it.

“We look forward to the engagement panel tomorrow which would be an avenue for Nigerians to learn how to use the new media in unconventional ways,” EiE said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Why Appeal Court dismissed Saraki’s application to stop trial

Next Post

Ondo Court restrains INEC from replacing PDP governorship candidate

Samuel Ogundipe

Samuel Ogundipe

Samuel Ogundipe is a general assignment reporter at PREMIUM TIMES. At various times, he has covered the Presidency, National Assembly and Defence. Twitter: @SamuelOgundipe

More News

President Muhammadu Buhari earlier received President of Benin Republic, H.E. Patrice Talon at the State House, Abuja.

Buhari, Beninese president meet at Aso Rock

January 19, 2021
Singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine. [PHOTO CREDIT: Twitter handle of Bobi]

Falana petitions UN working group over Bobi Wine’s house arrest

January 19, 2021
crude-oil-pipe

Nigerian newest crude grade, Anyala, to arrive Europe

January 19, 2021
Adesola Amosu

How funds were diverted under ex-NAF chief’s watch — Witness

January 18, 2021
Ahmed Maiwada Picture courtesy, Daily Nigerian

Court wades into crisis rocking Nigerian writers’ union

January 18, 2021
Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, in Osun State, John Adekolawole [PHOTO CREDIT: John Adekolawole on facebook]

Ede Polytechnic Staff, alumni write Buhari, list rector’s many “sins”

January 18, 2021
Next Post
Ondo 2016: PDP gets governorship candidate

Ondo Court restrains INEC from replacing PDP governorship candidate

DasukiGate: How Fayose’s aide supervised disbursement of N1.2 billion – Witness

Buhari unveils petroleum roadmap, says oil and gas critical for Nigeria's growth

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps Address Nationwide
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.