Twitter Suspension: Oyo Governor appeals to FG to reverse decision

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appealed to the Federal Government to reverse its decision on the suspension of Twitter for the greater good of Nigerians.

The Governor, while making the appeal, said the decision, if not reversed, may hamper the operations of thousands of businesses and services on Twitter in the country.

He warned that the action by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is also capable of affecting investors’ confidence in the country.

Makinde, in a statement he signed personally on Saturday, called for due consideration from the government on the implications of its actions, saying that Twitter has become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental rights to express and publish an opinion.

The Governor, who has a strong presence on Twitter, said it became imperative for him to make the statement as the country debates the ban, warning that, the decision, apart from having grave implications on the image of the country, would hamper thousands of businesses and services, which Nigerian youths promote and influence on the platform.

He said: “It has become imperative for me to release a statement regarding the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government.

“As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically. 

“Twitter has become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental rights to express and publish an opinion. They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to government and its agencies, who in turn, use these to improve policies. This is a fundamental point that should be kept in mind as we debate the necessity of this suspension.

“We should also remember that Twitter has gone beyond a source of communication for many of our hardworking youths in Nigeria. It has become a source of livelihood for many, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious leanings. Nigerian youths and digital communications organisations earn a living from being able to use the platform to post communications on behalf of their clients.

“Others who may not have physical stores also rely on Twitter to give visibility to their products and services.

“Furthermore, I believe the Federal Government should be actively interested in how certain policies and actions will affect investors’ confidence. I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to reverse this suspension for the greater good of Nigerians,” the statement reads.

Emmanuel Ukoh