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Excitement over a quarter has continued to follow the Nigerian government lifting its suspension on Twitter for more than six months announcing for the first time the closure of the country's social media giant.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of Apex IT regulator, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday that was violated by PRNigeria.
Mr Inuwa was in charge, as chairman, of a committee (Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement) set up by the Nigerian government to facilitate dialogue between the West African nation and minority blogging services after the ban.
The chairperson said the approval was given following an invitation written by the country's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to the President, Muhammadu Buhari. Following the proclamation, the ban was lifted immediately at midnight, January 13, 2022.
How it started
one may recall that at some point in 2021 the Nigerian Government Government through the Department of Information and Culture announced the suspension of Twitter, following the removal of a statement by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. .
But it was not the first time the Twitter intervention had created chaos that threatened the security and stability of Nigeria.
How it was going
Unsurprisingly, in October 2020, the EndSARS protests over police reform began in a positive way until destructive elements hijacked the protests and used the same Twitter platform for false allegations and dangerous activists who had torn the nation off religious lines.
In fact, security centers were demolished, workers were brutally murdered, and the country slowly invaded until we received divine intervention to assess the situation.
It was then that some angry protesters waved the Nigerian flag - chanting, “Who is the bad boy? Buhari is a bad boy! ” to President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Tweeting all this without the necessary action from the Twitter authorities was bound to put Nigeria in a precarious position until the unity government took appropriate action. If the crisis had been allowed to continue, we would not be talking about Nigeria at this time.
There is no denying that Twitter has been used as a tool to disrupt national unity and the peaceful co-existence of our ancient heroes.
From the history of the modus operandi of Twitter, this is not the first time they have had a course of conflict with imperial power.
Since 2019, the governments of China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia Burma, Cuba, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have blocked access to social media in their countries because of its misuse to promote a vicious agenda.
Blocking Twitter is the best decision taken by this administration. If I were president I would take the same step as the safety and security of South Africans is more important than anything else.
Violent issues have always been very costly to lives and property. As we saw in the 1989 SAP riots and the “Ali Must Go” crisis that rocked the country in 1978. The slogan "Ali Must Go" was adopted against the Provincial Commissioner of Education Col. Ahmadu Ali during the military service of General Olusegun Obasanjo. state.
Let us not forget that scores of students lost their lives during the protests that began when the coalition government increased the food ticket for tertiary students from 50 Kobo to N1.50 Kobo and then to N2.00.
The June 12 protests against General Sani Abacha's military regime killed scores of people; students including. The journey to the better Nigeria seems likely to be made through a series of upheavals.
Most of the people who were part of the protests in the 70s, 80s, and 90s are probably in their 50s and 60s and some are even dead now.
The unity of our country is greater than the personal or organizational interests as we have the authority to promote the peaceful co-existence of our country. We must have the world first. A major obstacle to progress, unity and stability in Nigeria is protests that could lead to problems.
Let us have a nation where the act of a stupid, drunken man or woman who frees himself near a church or mosque in a remote part of the country could mean that death sentences are not passed on to innocent Nigerians living elsewhere.
One thing is certain as things unfold; generations will make us all accountable for the future we leave to unborn children.
How it is now
Twitter's adoption of unity government policies is a widely accepted development. Whichever way you choose to watch it, Nigeria has had a big win and it will always be.
What do you think about this development? Use the comment box below and share your thoughts.