Suspension Of Twitter: Nigerian Bloggers And Media Influencers Are Groaning
The Oasis Reporters
June 21, 2021
By deleting President Buhari’s tweet leading to his angry back kick in the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria, the ultimate effects are biting and ruining the businesses of hard working Nigerian bloggers who earn their coins by reaching audiences across the globe through the social media giant, Twitter.
Public affairs commentator and US based lawyer, Zents Kunle Sowunmi had earlier shared his thoughts on this issue before it snowballed into the seemingly intractable bind the affair has entered:
“…His deleted Tweet laced with genocide was dangerous for humanity, Twitter further said Buhari’s message on Twitter platform with his 4 million viewers mostly from his core North may be used as a weapon of mass attack on the South East of Nigeria if allowed.
Twitter is not a government, it is a privately owned company with responsibility to her shareholders, and in the services of its members who are bound by the rules and regulations of the company, meaning President Buhari must have read Twitter policy before he signed for it, no matter his authority if and when he failed to abide by the rules of the company his account could be terminated or suspended.
The company said the deleted tweet of President Buhari was against what Twitter stands for as a social media operating firm to promote peace and dialogue worldwide. And President Buhari, like suspended former US President Trump and others on Twitter, must learn where and the forum to spread their messages.
President Buhari, a former military dictator who is not used to being challenged in a democracy saw the act of Twitter as an affront on his presidency and thereby suspended activities of Twitter in Nigeria.
Without approval from the National Assembly, President Buhari directed the NBC to regulate all actions of social media in the country and which will include Facebook, Instagram, Google and others.
How will a nation without internet control or suspend Twitter or any of the social media? Well, the best option for President Buhari and his media team will be to approach dictators like Putin in Russia, and that of China for support to turn off social media button” – Zents Sowunmi.
Turning Twitter off didn’t need to go that far to achieve the aim of suspending the media giant. A simple message to GSM companies as well as data providers to block Twitter feeds seemed a far better option. Obviously that is what has happened.
Google AdSense partner bloggers make their little coins by receiving ads automatically placed in their publications. They are paid per view. When an entire media giant like Twitter that is indispensable for sharing links is knocked out of action, fewer publications get viewed around the world, affecting the earnings of bloggers.
As it is, little will be known of even positive acts made by the Buhari administration as Twitter remains a veritable tool for news dissemination.
The suspension is therefore hurting social media influencers assisting the government also, as well as the private sector users of Twitter.
Both parties are better off reaching an amicable resolution within a short period. Nigerians need Twitter, as much as Twitter needs the Nigerian market.
Zents Kunle Sowunmi concludes thus:
“Can Buhari set up his own look alike Twitter platform to compete and promote in Nigeria? The Oracle says whatever the outcome, suspending Twitter is not the best option, it will continue to draw international interest into the problems of Nigeria”
Greg Abolo.
Additional reporting by Zents Kunle Sowunmi from the US.
