Uche Jombo Faces Twitter Backlash for Coronavirus Comment
Nollywood actress Uche Jombo has come under fire from President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide Tolu Ogunlesi and other Nigerian Twitter users over comments the screen star made about novel coronavirus.
Jombo, in a bid to educate Nigerians, had wrongly misinformed them in a now-deleted tweet in which she asked them to educate themselves on coronavirus.
The actress tweeted:
“Reading up on #CoronavirusOutbreak
We should all collectively do so before the government use this to disappear the newly borrowed money
For example, the virus CAN NOT survive in a HOT environment.
Still reading ….. please do so too and be safe/cautious out there.”
However, Nigerian Twitter users were quick to point out that the link she posted stressed that coronavirus not being able to survive in hot conditions is speculation. Furthermore, the same article which she wrongfully misquoted also has scientists cautioning people as the virus is still new to Africa.
Many slammed the actress for using the word “CANNOT” with several insults hurled at her for the misinformation; as well as tackling the government’s release of funds to combat the virus.
Also, her other tweets alleged that there is no “testing” at Nigerian airports to detect if travelers are infected with the epidemic. According to her, she picked up someone at the airport yesterday and there was no screening.
A Twitter user in reaction shared photos and videos of screenings at the airport to debunk Jombo’s claim.
Also, Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on New Media replied Jombo; querying how passengers will be tested for Coronavirus at the airport.
Gawat’s tweet was to emphasize that health workers screen just passengers’ temperature at the airport, not coronavirus tests.
There were more tweets from her that raised Nigerian Twitter users’ angst. One of such was when she wrote that the N620 million released to fight coronavirus is a ploy to loot funds; as 1% of the money can help equip hospitals properly.
She tweeted:
“Imagine just 1% of the money injected into our healthcare system nationwide. Equipping hospitals properly.”
On this, tweeters schooled her about foreign countries like US releasing funds running into millions of dollars to fight the virus; with the N620 million Nigeria released a paltry sum compared to the over $8 million US released.
Also reacting to Jombo’s tweets was President Buhari’s media aide, Tolu Ogunlesi. Ogunlesi took to his Twitter page to berate the Nollywood actress for not using her platform responsibly; setting back the federal government’s efforts in containing the outbreak of the disease.
In his tweet, Ogunlesi wrote:
“What are you reading? Why is a celebrity confidently sharing medical information that is speculative at best? Do you know the damage you’re doing to efforts to contain the outbreak, with conspiracy theories? Should you not be using your platform more responsibly?”
Check out some more reactions to Jombo’s tweets below:
Other celebrities seeing this will probably be more cautious with hat they tweet; Twitter is a cold savage place.
