linda-ikeji

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.

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.

https://twitter.com/HNNAfrica/status/676488168246484992

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.

https://twitter.com/Burmese_Tyga/status/676485764247511040

https://twitter.com/Burmese_Tyga/status/676476214522077184

https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/676481837833789440

https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/676482107837911041

…and someone found a way to drag Fashola into the conversation…

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.

 

Osarumen Osamuyi Author

Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox