Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity is generally regarded as a gentleman.

But on Christmas Day, he ignited a fire on Twitter, with his Christmas message, in which he wishes all Nigerians and the ‘wailing wailers’, a merry Christmas. The message appears to be a follow up to a series of tweets he made on 22 December in which he called on the unrelenting critics of the President to team up with him as we “are no longer in pre-election mode”.

7.A number of people have decided to be critical, even when criticisms are not necessary. We are not in pre-election mode again.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) December 22, 2015

8. I would like to tell them that elections are over. In other parts of the world, when elections are over, they all team up

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) December 22, 2015

In Nigeria’s cyberworld, the Wailing Wailers are the social media storm troopers of the former president Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party. On Friday they lashed on Adesina’s Friday message to pour their scorn and derision on him.

Merry Christmas to all, including the Wailing Wailers.

— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) December 25, 2015

Though the tweet had gotten only 372 retweets by 2pm on Friday, nine hours after he posted it, the “wailing wailers” have been gunning him down with abusive counter-tweets. they called him names; they said he was immature; they said he crossed the line.

Here are some typical reactions:

Fool! Shameful! Immature! Stupid! Disgrace! Nigs Rain Curses on Femi Adesina Over Christmas Tweet https://t.co/XA4RVSLWdm via @thesignalng

— Sandy Gold (@SandraSandygold) December 25, 2015

Femi adesina crossed the line.

— Umar Nagero (@umarnagero) December 25, 2015

But with the current situation in the country, Femi Adesina should have known even the non-christened "Wailers" are not smiling.

— Beautiful Soul (@radopx) December 25, 2015

One tweet says Femi should have known the storm he was toying with when he pushed out the tweet.

Uncle Femi Adesina too like to dey find trouble sha. Why not let the sleeping "wailing wailers" be. But really,he's made twitter sweet 2day.

— Beautiful Soul (@radopx) December 25, 2015

The reactions continue, with some thanking him for making Twittersphere a very interesting day.