Nigeria’s House of Representatives minority caucus has condemned the Federal Government decision to suspend Twitter operations in Nigeria describing it as a clear violation of freedom of speech and other democratic rights and tenets as provided by the 1999 constitution.
In a statement signed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu on Saturday, the lawamakers maintained that the suspension is “provocative, obnoxious and unjustifiable”.
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The caucus noted that the action of the Federal Government “smacks of intolerance, insensitivity and aversion to the views, opinions and aspirations of Nigerian citizens, especially the youths, on matters of state.”
The caucus further stated that it “rejects this thoughtless decision of the Federal Government which amounts to a clampdown and a direct infringement on the rights of Nigerians to free speech as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”.
Taking a swipe at the ruling party, the caucus insist that Twitter’s suspension “further shows the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration as one that is unwilling to listen to Nigerians but ready to use any means to suppress and subjugate its citizens”.
The Minority Caucus expressed concern that Twitter’s suspension in the country came after the social media platform deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets saying that such response by the Federal Government has raised further concerns over the APC-led administration’s disturbing rating on issues of political intolerance, abuse of rights and violation of rules in the country.
The statement called for caution as the development is capable of leading to further restiveness among Nigerians and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reverse the suspension placed on Twitter so as not to exacerbate the already tensed situation in the country.
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)
