MATTERS ARISING: Did FG suspend Twitter for ‘undermining Nigeria’s existence’ — or deleting Buhari’s tweet?

The federal government has taken action against Twitter in the wake of the deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.

On Friday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, citing “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

The development comes two days after Twitter flagged the president’s controversial comment on the civil war.

“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occured during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” the president had tweeted.

The tweet, which generated criticism and public outcry, violated Twitter’s rules which prohibit a number of actions from users, including violence, abuse, and hateful conduct.

TWITTER’S SUSPENSION: TIT FOR TAT OR IN DEFENCE OF NIGERIA?

After Buhari’s tweet was deleted, Lai had accused the platform of “double standard” in its operation.

The minister said Twitter ignores “hate” messages from the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group but was quick to enforce its rules against the president.

He said Twitter has continued to turn a blind eye to IPOB’s activities and the tweets shared by its founder, Nnamdi Kanu, despite the proscription of the group.

“Twitter may have its own rules, it’s not the universal rule. If Mr President, anywhere in the world, feels very bad and concerned about a situation, he is free to express such views. If an organisation is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed,” he had said.

“Two, any organisation that gives directives to its members to attack police stations, to kill policemen, to attack correctional centres, to kill warders, and you are now saying that Mr President does not have the right to express his dismay and anger about that?

“I don’t see anywhere in the world where an organisation, a person will stay somewhere outside Nigeria, and will direct his members to attack the symbols of authority, the police, the military, especially when that organisation has been proscribed. By whatever name, you can’t justify giving orders to kill policemen or to kill anybody you do not agree with.”

LAI: TWITTER’S MISSION IN NIGERIA SUSPICIOUS

Lai had also recalled the support granted by Jack Dorsey, chief executive officer (CEO) of Twitter, to the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.

The protest against police brutality in Nigeria had gained global attention.

In the heat of the protests, Jack urged people to donate via Bitcoin to support the movement.

The minister said the protest was funded by Twitter, adding that the mission of the microblogging platform in Nigeria is suspect.

“The mission of Twitter in Nigeria is very very suspect,” he said.

“Has Twitter deleted the violent tweets that Nnamdi Kanu has been sending? The same Twitter, during the #ENDSARS protests, that was funding #ENDSARS protesters.

“You see, we are not going to be fooled by anybody. We have a country to rule and we will do so to the best of our ability. Twitter’s mission in Nigeria citing those two examples is very suspect. What is their agenda?

“How does Mr President’s speech that anybody who has destroyed infrastructure, police offices, INEC offices should be ready for the consequences… is that inciting violence?”

While the factors that necessitated the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria remain unclear, the federal government’s decision cannot be analysed while isolating the deletion of Buhari’s tweet.