Questionable slogans are certainly nothing new in presidential elections, but the race to choose Nigeria’s next leader might have stooped to new lows of taste and decency. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was on Wednesday forced to call for the removal of banners and billboards appearing to cash-in on #BringBackOurGirls, the global campaign to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic militants in April. The original hashtag put a global spotlight on the brutal Islamist sect Boko Haram and was supported by scores of celebrities including Michelle Obama.
But posters with the modified message #BringBackGoodluck2015 — supporting Jonathan's reelection bid —began appearing in the capital Abuja in August. This caused a major backlash, with Nigerians taking to Twitter in their droves to voice their disapproval. Nigerian Senator Bukola Saraki tweeted the posters were "a mockery of not just [the kidnapped girls] but to Nigeria" as a nation. Jonathan replied to this storm with a statement claiming that he did not sign off on the slogan, and like many Nigerians found them "offensive and repugnant." The president faced criticism for his response to Boko Haram, but he said he remained "fully engaged with efforts to rescue" the kidnapped girls.
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