The federal government on Wednesday has reacted to the Twitter decision to delete a tweet posted by Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday on Civil war.
The federal government disclosed that it’s suspecting the activities of Twitter, following its decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet referencing the civil war.
President Buhari on Thursday had in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle, @Mbuhari, tweeted: “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred 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.”
Following the development, Nigerians on social media took to Twitter to drag the President for making such threats towards a particular tribe.
While some slammed him for pleading with Fulani herdsmen and bandits who have killed and are still killing innocent Nigerians, others slammed him for threatening the South East with another civil war that killed almost 3 million Igbos.
They also reported the tweet and also called for the suspension of the President’s account by the management of Twitter.
Following several complaints, Twitter deleted the tweet, stating: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules”.
But reacting to the decision of Twitter on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused Twitter of double standard.
Mohammed said the social media giant has conveniently ignored inciting tweets by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and his cohorts.
He said Twitter ignored Kalu’s remarks that encouraged the killing of Police personnel and the show of similar biases during the ENDSARS protest where government and private properties were looted and set on fire, considering it human rights.
Mohammed, who wondered why the organization now found President Buhari’s tweet offensive, said Twitter’s role is suspect and Nigeria will not be fooled.
He said: “Twitter may have its own rules, it’s not the universal rule. If Mr. President, anywhere in the world feels very bad and concern about a situation, he is free to express such views. Now, we should stop comparing apples with oranges. If an organisation is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed.
“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? Are we the ones guilty of double standards? 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.
