Yesterday, online media commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi (@Ogundamisi) shared a Facebook post on Twitter, alleging that “a popular female blogger” was paid N240M by Dudafa Waripamo, Special Adviser, Domestic Events to former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Flash! Popular Female Blogger recieved N240 Million from #DasukiGate ? Dudafa Waripamo SA Domestic to former… https://t.co/Lg9JoRq7r2
— Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí 🇳🇬 (@ogundamisi) December 14, 2015
It later came forth from a series of tweets “International journalist”, Kemi Olunloyo, that the payment was ‘incentive’ for the blogger (whoever she is) to kill a potentially scandalous story.
#LindaGate The property located in Banana Island #Lagos was allegedly a GIFT from a politician in exchange for NOT running a story.
— Dr Kemi Lawrence (@DrKemiLawrence) December 14, 2015
Female bloggers in Nigeria don’t come more popular than Ms. Ikeji, and the fact that she appears to be making a killing just aggregating “news”, and selling paid ads, she was the first name that came to many Nigerians’ minds.
Linda just produce Invoice, that's all
— L. A☀ (@Ajolarr) December 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/Burmese_Tyga/status/676485764247511040
https://twitter.com/Burmese_Tyga/status/676476214522077184
If Linda Ikeji is the blogger Dasuki paid i repeat nothing is wrong with what she did she charged a fee for a service.. Don't hate!
— Nemeze (@Nemeze) December 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/676481837833789440
https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/676482107837911041
Guess who is next on the hit list? Jealousy Jealousy people will say it's Linda Ikeji now. But it's non of my biz pic.twitter.com/toz6QdcN8h
— Michael Abisuga (@abisuga) December 14, 2015
Abeg Linda Ikeji if u have dis opportunity again collect times 2 of d 240million, if u can't, call me I will help u out #lindaikeji
— Fantasia George (@phantaziaa) December 14, 2015
…and someone found a way to drag Fashola into the conversation…
So it's ok for Linda Ikeji to charge FG N240m for advert services, yet @tundefashola was wrong to build websites for N78m? @Ayourb
— David Banks (@dotman77) December 14, 2015
Linda Ikeji has started trending. Can see a lot of people experiencing schadenfreude. SMH
— Damilare Joseph (@dre4success) December 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/BluntWithTruth/status/676463501288873984
https://twitter.com/nadyx/status/676495571948032000
Of course, she denied the allegations, dismissing it as the antics of her “haters”, trying to bring down a hard-working woman.
“But seriously for the record…no party registered or unregistered, no human being dead or alive gave me N240m for anything.”
“Anyway, all these bad belle people looking for ways to bring a woman down…like I always say…you can’t! Except you’re mightier than God! Whether you like it or not, I’m a hardworking young woman who God chose to bless the work of her hand and is using me to bless others”
If the story turns out to be true though, it will dramatically alter the perception of the blogging profession in Nigeria, Linda’s status as a female role-model, and will possibly influence the ongoing #AntiSocialMediaBill conversation.
Time will tell.
