Nigeria’s Twitterati Elevate Makinde Into The Pantheon Of Patriots Against Arbitrary Dictatorship
The Oasis Reporters
January 15, 2022
By Greg Abolo
There is an overwhelming sense of relief over the lifting of the ban on Twitter by the Buhari’s presidency.
The fact that a multinational firm like Airtel would put out a message to millions of it’s “Dear Valued Customers” thus: “Our twitter resolution channel is now back online. You can now reach us on our twitter handle @airtel_care. Thank you. Airtel Cares”, shows that the ban seriously disrupted businesses.
In other words, a democratically elected government was for 222 days, determined that the businesses of it’s citizens must be disrupted and stampeded into losses as a consequence of it’s choices, because the president is angry with a foreign company in America.
Therefore, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has reiterated the need for Nigerians to make the right choice at the polls as the 2023 general elections draw near, and the message is resonating with angry youths who now prefer him for the presidency.
Makinde stated this in a tweet on Friday via his Twitter handle as he announced that he was taking down his tweet in which he opposed the Twitter ban imposed by the Federal Government.
In a series of tweets a day after the ban, which expressed his official stand, Makinde stated that Twitter was an avenue for citizens to share their opinions and give feedback on governance.
“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 right to express and publish an opinion. They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to the 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,” his June 5, 2021 statement read in part.
With the ban on access to the microblogging site lifted in the early hours of Thursday, Makinde expressed his hope that Nigerians would be ready to make the right choices during the elections.
He wrote, “As I take down my pinned tweet, which showed my unequivocal stand against the #TwitterBan which lasted 222 days, I’d like to remind us all that our choices have consequences.
“With the 2023 elections around the corner, I hope we are prepared to make the right electoral choices.”
Nigerians, you have a man who took sides with the people during the #TwitterBan and he’s unapologetic about it.
— FORLÁN (@Viqforlan) January 14, 2022
Voting politicians who put the people first in every situation should be the number one factor to consider during elections.
Seyi Makinde is built different.
God Bless you
— QUDUS OMOOLA (@omoola0122) January 13, 2022
The peoples Governor Seyi Makinde https://t.co/YCW8CFjzUC
Let it be on record that Seyi Makinde is the only Governor that did not support this tyrant APC on #TwitterBan and was also with the youth during #EndSARS. pic.twitter.com/Ix9ZOhtg32
— Ayodeji of Oke-Ogun 🎬 (@a_aadedeji) January 14, 2022
Yet on June 5, 2021 (only a week before Democracy Day commemoration and celebrations) , the Nigerian government officially put an indefinite ban on Twitter, restricting it from operating in Nigeria after the social media platform deleted tweets made by President Muhammadu Buhari warning the south eastern people of Nigeria, predominantly Igbo people, of a potential repeat of the 1967 Biafran Civil War due to the ongoing insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria.
The Nigerian government claimed that the deletion of the President’s tweets factored into their decision but it was ultimately based on “a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences”, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The ban was condemned by Amnesty International as well as the British and Canadian missions and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria.
Two domestic organizations – the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Bar Association – indicated intent to challenge the ban in court. Twitter itself called the ban “deeply concerning”.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised the ban. “Congratulations to the country of Nigeria, who just banned Twitter because they banned their President”, Trump said.
Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed stated the ban will be lifted once Twitter submits to local licensing, registration and conditions. “It will be licensed by the broadcasting commission, and must agree not to allow its platform to be used by those who are promoting activities that are inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.”
Hypothetically speaking, consider how an aspiring politician would use the ban as the springboard for his campaign.
…”On Twitter Suspension, Ogbeni Seyi Makinde, the affable builder of Oyo who pays salaries regularly even counseled Buhari to ‘Go Beyond Emotional Reactions To Issues, Think About The Impact Of Your Actions On People’ on June 6 of 2021 as reported by The Oasis Reporters. Yet he was ignored.
Further reading :
/
Twitter Suspension: ‘Go Beyond Emotional Reactions To Issues, Think About The Impact Of Your Actions On People’, Makinde Counsels FG
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, counseled the Federal Government of Nigeria not to hamper the operations of thousands of businesses and services with its recent suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.
He further stated that this action by the Buhari administration is capable of affecting investors’ confidence in the country.
Governor Makinde called for due consideration from the government on the implications of its action, saying that “Twitter has become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental right to express and publish an opinion.”
Statement by Governor Seyi Makinde Regarding the Suspension of Twitter’s Operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) June 5, 2021
It has become imperative for me to release a statement regarding the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government. pic.twitter.com/DbxVpAbmWq
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.
He, however, warned that the decision, apart from having grave implications for the image of the country, will 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 right 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 investor confidence. I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to reverse this suspension for the greater good of Nigerians”.
The campaign message would unequivocally woo Nigerian voters.
