A former member of the House of Representatives, Dapo Lam Adesina, is adopting a distinctive method for handling criticism on the social media platform Facebook. He is directly engaging with detractors by employing humor, offering calm explanations, and occasionally posing pointed questions.
Mr. Adesina, a politician from Oyo State and son of the late former governor, Lam Adesina, represented the Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency from 2015 to 2019 under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Prior to his national legislative role, Mr. Adesina served in the Oyo State government, including a stint as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports during Governor Abiola Ajimobi's tenure.
These interactions are taking place in the comment sections of his public posts, where individuals are challenging his political history and future aspirations. The former lawmaker is responding in real-time to these public discussions.
In recent weeks, Mr. Adesina has been actively conversing with followers on his Facebook page. He has been replying to critics, addressing inquiries about his political career, and defending his track record through these public exchanges.
A recent post on his Facebook page exemplifies this interactive style.
Humor Amidst Criticism
In the comments of one particular post, a Facebook user named Olagunju Alowonle questioned Mr. Adesina's persistent pursuit of political office. The user suggested that Mr. Adesina should instead focus on business or even leave the country.
“Can’t you go into business with the money you have gathered. Don’t you have second, third even fourth addresses. Must you be house of representatives member or senator? Mr Man go abroad to struggle. Are you the only former governor’s son,” the commenter remarked.
Mr. Adesina responded with a touch of humor, replying, “You mean I should jaapa,” accompanied by laughing emojis, referencing the popular Nigerian slang for emigrating abroad.
This exchange prompted further comments from other users, with some jokingly offering to accompany him if he decided to relocate.
Supporters Offer Commendation
Some followers also took to the comment section to praise the politician's composed manner in responding to criticism.
One commenter, Kehinde Olayinka, stated: “Although I have a different opinion about you before but with your response on this page it shows you are a good listener and not aggressive about criticism.”
Mr. Adesina offered a brief reply: “Thank you very much ma.”
Challenging Critics Directly
Other interactions were more direct in their nature.
A user, Adeyemi Michael, accused political elites of monopolizing Nigeria's political landscape, stating, “Make U dey fool yourself Na only una family dem make nigeria for Mumu.”
Mr. Adesina calmly retorted, “Don’t be angry sir.”
Another user, Ismail Babatunde, expressed that he did not recall receiving any personal benefits from Mr. Adesina's time in the House of Representatives. He cautioned that voters are now more politically astute.
“After winning the federal house of representatives election I don’t benefits kobo. Brother please don’t waste your time this time all eyes are open,” the commenter wrote.
Mr. Adesina countered this by arguing that party members and communities had indeed benefited from programs he helped facilitate during his tenure.
“My dear brother, can you say that any other person has done well for party members than me? The regular empowerment I facilitated and festive support. Has anyone done better since I left?” he inquired.
A New Political Communication Style
These exchanges highlight the growing trend of Nigerian politicians utilizing social media for direct engagement with constituents, moving beyond traditional media channels.
For Mr. Adesina, this approach appears to be a strategy to counter negative feedback while projecting an image of openness to discussion.
The comment threads reveal a spectrum of reactions, including skepticism, approval, and humor, illustrating how Facebook has become a public forum for defending political standing, one comment at a time.
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