‘Tunde Ednut is a bully’, Nigerians drag influencer over Super Eagles star

Nigerians have accused social media influencer Tunde Ednut of setting up Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi for drags after Nigeria lost the 2023 African Cup of Nations final to Ivory Coast on Sunday.

Iwobi has been the subject of backlash from netizens who accused the Fulham star of orchestrating Nigeria’s loss at the tournament with his “dismal” play.

However, reacting to the insults and hate speeches meted out against the Nigerian midfielder, netizens dragged Tunde Ednut, saying he is solely responsible for the cyberbullying that forced the former Arsenal player to delete all his Instagram photos.

Tunde Ednut, in a series of post-match statements on Instagram, asked netizens for their opinion on Iwobi’s performance, “setting him up for insults.”

This, according to netizens, formed the beginning of the backlashes, hate speeches, and cyberbullying Iwobi endured following Nigeria’s loss to Ivory Coast.

An X user simply identified as No1Again, wrote, “The whole tournament, Tunde Ednut has been asking his followers what they think of Iwobi, setting him up for insults. He succeeded; now he is doing this? Tunde, you are a fool. A big fool.”

For Emerald, she noted that “Tunde Ednut is a terrible person! He was part of the people dragging Iwobi on his page with his headless mob followers.”

“Tunde Ednut is a bully! This is why I don’t like social media influencers,” she added.

For Sarafina Napoleon, she alleged that “Tunde Ednut used his page to bully Iwobi. The man kept posting things about the player, singling him out every time. He started this cyberbullying; I hope he enjoys it since Iwobi is his new orgasm.”

“One day y’all will tell Tunde Ednut the truth; he was the person that set Iwobi up for drags and bullying yesterday. Constructive criticism is allowed in football, but bullying someone is not allowed. He is human and he has feelings and emotions,” Abdulmotuleeb noted.

Omo Kogi on X further accused the social media influencer  for Iwobi’s woes on Instagram when he said, “Tunde Ednut setted Iwobi up for drags on Instagram before Yhemolee reposted it on his page for cheap engagement. We can do better.”

Sarki further blamed Tunde Ednut, saying, “Tunde Ednut has been bullying Iwobi for days; the short thing couldn’t even succeed in his music career. He has decided to use his page to bully others. I don’t know why his page is still up. I blame Tunde Ednut, not Yhemolee.”

Calling the social media influencer “a vile person,” Pastor J. Okezie called for social media regulation noting that the cyberbullying of Iwobi was one too many.

He said, “Tunde Ednut is a pure vile person. He actually started the whole cyberbullying (dragging) of Alex Iwobi by constantly posting his pictures and asking people ‘how they feel about his performance’ but he is trying to play the victim card.

“Social media regulation is just the best option.”

“Anyone saying Nigeria does not need social media regulation is living in denial. I am happy that Iwobi was set up for cyberbullying (dragging) by their favourite Obidiot goon, Tunde Ednut, and not anyone else.

“They really showed the world why they are terrible and vile supporters. The cyberbullying has been out of this world,” he added.

Reminding Tunde Ednut of his “failed music career,” another X user noted that “the biggest fool on the internet goes to no other person than Tunde Ednut. “Setting someone up for drags with the level of fame you have, cyberbullying that person. Lol, it’s all fun and games until he’s depressed or commits suicide!! ” This Tunde Ednut thinks anything in life lasts forever, lmao.

“You are setting someone up for drags, while in the real sense, you are setting your useless self up for permanent enemies in life!

“A failed artist! “A wanna be blogger.”

Amid the backlashes meted out against Iwobi, Chronicle NG reports that a cross-section of Nigerians drummed up support for the midfielder, saying that the former Everton star should not be blamed for Nigeria’s loss to Ivory Coast.

Sebastien Haller was the hero for Ivory Coast once more, as the Elephants rallied from behind to defeat Nigeria and win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final on home soil.

The striker, who had also scored the semi-final winner just 13 months after returning from testicular cancer, flicked in Simon Adingra’s cross with the toe of his boot with nine minutes left to cap a second-half comeback and stir frenzied celebrations in Abidjan.

William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria ahead seven minutes before halftime with a powerful header from nine yards out, following a corner.

Franck Kessie equalised for Ivory Coast in the 62nd minute, when he was unmarked at the back post after Adingra’s corner.

After a dramatic run to the final, which featured the departure of Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset following two defeats in the group stage, the Ivorians won their third AFCON title with a well-deserved triumph.