Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed sadness over the death of the Spiritual Leader of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, describing him as a devout man of God.
In a message of condolence to his family and the SCOAN congregation, signed on his behalf by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, the former President noted that Joshua, who died at the age of 57, served God and humanity with relentless passion.
Dr. Jonathan also prayed God to grant millions of his followers across the world the strength to cope with his exit.
The former President stated: “I am saddened to hear about the death of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, known as TB Joshua, the Spiritual Leader of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), at a young age of 57.
“TB Joshua was a devout man of God who served God and humanity with relentless passion. He was a man of sound doctrine, meek and faithful to his call and passion of reconciling men to God and offering hope to humanity.
“As a Christian leader, TB Joshua and his Ministry exemplified Christ in faith, love and charity; positively impacting the lives of many Nigerians, Africans and millions of people across the world.
“I condole with his family, his church and millions of his followers across the world. May God grant them peace and strength to cope with this loss.”
President Muhammadu Buhari must have been shocked by the local and international condemnations that greeted his government’s ban on Twitter, the US based micro blogging site over the spat his government is currently having with the site for deleting his comment last week.
Apart from many Nigerians who have massively criticized the action for grossly violating their fundamental rights, the government has not been spared by both local and international critics which chided the administration for not considering the grave implications the ban portends for the country.
Since the ban took effect on Saturday night, many Nigerians have been using the Virtual Private Network, VPN, to bypass the local GSM network providers, but the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has also warned that those doing so will be severely punished.
Because of the role the social media platform played around the globe, critics of the Buhari government said the ban with have both diplomatic, economic and social backlash for the country.
For instance, in a joint statement issued on Saturday, by Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, they said banning systems of expression is not the way forward.
The statement was titled, ‘Joint Statement From The Diplomatic Missions Of Canada, The European Union (Delegation To Nigeria), The Republic Of Ireland, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America’.
It read, “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media.
Buhari: Condemned for Banning Twitter
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less, communication to accompany the concerted efforts of Nigeria’s citizens in fulsome dialogue toward unity, peace and prosperity.
The twitter ban followed the removal of President Buhari’s tweet where he said “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand. We are going to be very hard sooner than later.”
Buhari made the statement during a meeting he had with INEC Chairman Professor Yakubu, who complained that the burning of INEC offices and other government facilities in the south east posed a serious challenge to future election in the zone.
But following the backlash that has trailed the ban, the government, however, said it did not take the action because the blogging site sanctioned President Buhari.
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement on Friday, June 4, in Abuja, said Twitter was suspended in the interest of Nigeria, noting that the social media site is undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The minister also stated that the suspension was part of the regulation of all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
Indeed, the federal government must have underestimated the reactions to its decision to ban twitter, which many say will now have serious consequences for the country, considering the role that twitter played in the lives of many Nigerians.
These include economic, social and diplomatic roles, which critics of the government said are now in jeopardy, because of the hasty decisions of the Buhari’s administration not to think the issue over before taking acting on it..
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, while reacting to the issue, said the Buhari government has put the livelihood of many Nigerians, particularly youths in danger by suspending Twitter.
The Oyo state helmsman said “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.
“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.”
Makinde said he believes “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.”
Nobel Laurette Prof. Wole Soyinka said the Buhari’s administration has done an irreparable damage to the international image of the country, adding that the action is a collateral damage to the freedom of expression.
According to him “If Buhari has a problem with Twitter, he is advised to sort it out between them personally, the way Donald Trump did, not rope in the right to free expression of the Nigerian citizen as collateral damage.
“In any case, this is a technical problem Nigerians should be able to work their way around. The field of free expression remains wide open, free of any dictatorial spasms!”
Amnesty International “condemns the Nigerian government’s suspension of Twitter @Twitter in #Nigeria— a social media widely used by Nigerians to exercise their human rights, including their rights to freedom of expression and access to information.”
“This action is clearly inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“We call on the #Nigerian authorities to immediately reverse the unlawful suspension and other plans to gag the media, repress the civic space, and undermine Nigerians’ human rights.
SERAP, a human rights body in the country did not only condemn the action, it said “We’re suing Nigerian authorities over their ILLEGAL indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Nigerians have a right to freedom of expression and access to information including online, and we plan to fight to keep it that way.”
At least over 40 million Nigerians are on Twitter with the social blogging site business in the country to be worth over $1 billion annually.
The economic factor was not well considered, Njoku Mcdonald Nsofor, one of the critics of the government said, noting that what the government did was simply to send many Nigerians using the platform to eke a living into the unemployment market.
He said “President Muhammadu Buhari failed to create jobs for teeming Nigerian youths who roam aimlessly on the streets , forcing many to resort to illicit businesses as a means of survival. It is also on record that Nigerians make money from Twitter and other social media network service providers; Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, etc, from daily basis .
“These platforms create a large spectrum of audience with assured mileage , reach and social contact as the users in return make money from:
“Online marketing, online advertisement, blogging , promotion of their goods , services and corporate profiling .
“No doubt, Twitter creates jobs for millions of Nigerians , but Gen. Muhammadu Buhari bans Twitter simply because the network service provider deleted his warmongering tweet.
He said Buhari’s reaction to criticism is almost too abrasive, adding that the president was not the first leader of a country to be so sanctioned.
“Former American starchy and opinionated President, Mr. Donald Trump, received the same treatment from Twitter when he went overboard through a classified hate speech in one of his public functions!
“Did he place a ban on Twitter for doing what they considered flouting their rules of engagement and going below community standard? Obinna said
Also speaking on the economic implications for the country, the US government said step should be taken to reverse the decision immediately.
“The government’s recent Twitter ban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses,” the President Biden US-led government said. In spite of the bashing that the administration has received so far over the matter, some school of thoughts, however insist that the suspension of Twitter was necessary to send a strong warning to social media operators, who may want to use the web to distabilise the country.
For instance, some analysts said the management of twitter was too hasty in sanctioning the president, noting that what the president said in the now controversial tweet was necessary to deter troublemakers, particularly secessionist elements in the country, whose only intent is to run the country down.
According to one analyst, who craved anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discourse, he said “no president will allow what’s going on in the south east. The only problem is that President Buhari took his Twitter sanction personally.
The president was actually not threatening Igbo, what he did was to simply send a strong message to IPOB and their co-travelers that he will not allow them to destroy the country under his watch.”
The politician from the south East further stated that “no former President in this country, whether Obasanjo or Jonathan can allow the level of wanton destruction of lives and property going on in the south east.”
Also, the Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria, NPAN blamed Twitter for double standards in applying sanctions to violators of its community rules. For instance, the umbrella body of media owners in the country said the blogging site has been too lenient with IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu “to the extent that Twitter’s action may have been hasty in sanctioning President Buhari, and shown an uneven application to its rules against Kanu, its sincerity stands questioned. It should correct itself.”
NPAN, however, urged “the FG to backtrack from the ban it placed on Twitter, reminding it that Buhari is not the first President in the world whose post was pulled down. Former President Trump of America suffered same fate from both Twitter and Facebook. He banned none.”
In what looked like a reprisal attack, gunmen, suspected to be rogue Fulani Herdsmen attacked Igangan, country home of Yoruba Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, (Igboho) in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, leaving not less than 20 people dead.
The midnight attack was coming barely six days after the Chairman of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, General Ajibola Togun (retd) raised the alarm that some foreign Herders were about to unleash terror on the six states in the South West.
It also came few hours after Igboho, during a Yoruba rally in Ado Ekiti, flayed the activities of Fulani Herdsmen, especially in the South West.
Houses, including the Palace of the Community’s Monarch, were set ablaze.
Spokesperson of Igangan Community, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, said the invaders, who were Fulani Herders, unleashed terror on residents of the town.
A former Caretaker Chairman of the Council, Mr Tunji Omolewu, claimed the attack was real as he rushed down to Igangan this morning to verify.
‘I got the call around 11 pm. We were on our way from Ekiti where we had gone to do the Yoruba Nation rally. I got to Ibadan around 12 am and when the calls did not stop coming, I decided to come home.
“I have counted more than 20 dead bodies. The Palace of our Monarch was torched. Adolak filling station, too, was burnt.”
Another resident explained that the attackers were more than 50.
“They came on 20 motorcycles around 11 pm. They started shooting, stabbing, and clubbing our people.
“We don’t know what is happening now. We have shouted, cried and appealed for help but none came.
“These people have been killing us one by one. But, now, more than 20 people have been killed in this fresh attack.
“You know we sent them away from here when they were kidnapping and raping our women. Perhaps, this is a reprisal. Is this how we will continue to live our lives?”
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has joined numerous symphartizers accros the globe to mourn the passage of the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T. B. Joshua.
Governor Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olabode, said the news of his death came as a rude shock to him.
He described the renowned man of God as a blessing to humanity and a great Ambassador of the Sunshine State whose Ministry was noted for charity.
“Undoubtedly, Pastor Joshua’s demise came as a rude shock. The pains are not mere emotional flashes; they are indeed piercing.
“The Ondo-born Pastor and Televangelist was a philanthropist, whose exit will be sorely missed by many.
“Pastor Joshua was committed to giving and was more often, inexorably, imbued with calmness while lifting the downtrodden.
“As a televangelist, he did not just win souls for Christ, he was passionate about changing lives.
He demonstrated timelessly, an alluring service to humanity and compassion by assisting not only his home Local Government, Akoko North West.
“Other adjoining local governments in Akoko land benefitted from his large heart of benevolence.
“Of significant note too, Pastor Joshua never hesitated to assist in whatever manner the Ondo State Government desired such.
“To us in Ondo State, we consider this a personal loss. He was a pride to the Sunshine State.
“Not only Africa is hit hard; this is a great global knock as his ministry attracted an immeasurable foreign followership. Christendom has lost a giant.
“The reality of the finality of death, truly hurts the heart. But for TB Joshua, he had played his own part of the endless life orchestra; he has departed.
“We must take solace in his good deeds while here. He is now a Heaven’s gain. The people have lost a committed giver.
“We shall continue to remember his contributions to the development of our State.”
Joshua passed on Saturday, unexpectedly, as he was not ill. He gave up after a Church programme. He allegedly complained of excessive weakness, and died, reportedly, on his way to hospital. His congregation is in shock.
According to a release by the Church, his past words before he gave up were: “Watch and pray.”
Relations and kinsmen of the popular Lagos based Pastor and Televangelist, Temitope Balogun Joshua has confirmed his death.
He passed Saturday night after a Church programme.
Pastor Temitope Joshua, a native of Arigidi Akoko, in Ondo state, died at the age of 57. He would have been 57 on June 12.
The Chief Imam of Arigidi Akoko, Alhaji Salisu Musa who is an uncle to T.B Joshua, confirmed the death.
According to him, the news of his demise is true as it was received from Lagos on saturday night.
Alhaji Musa, who said he was on his way to the deceased’s residence in Lagos for further arrangements, lamented that the popular preacher died suddenly without any prior sickness.
Also, the Traditional Ruler of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun said he received the news of the sudden death of the illustrous son of the town with shock.
Oba Olanipekun said late T.B Joshua gave global recognition to the town through the works of his Ministry and his philanthropic gestures.
Born On June 12, 1963, T.B Joshua was the founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) a Christian megachurch that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos.
Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, the charismatic Televangelist and Founder of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations, SCOAN, is dead. He was popularly known as T,B Joshua.
A native of Ondo State, Nigeria, this Magazine gathered that he passed on Saturday, after a programme in his Church.
The Prophet was, unarguably, one of the most controversial and influential Clerics in Africa and the world. He was as revered as he was scorned.
He made a name and became both famous and very wealthy from his prophesies and predictions.
A number of African Presidents believed in his prophesies and predictions, and were visiting him in his Church at Ikotun, Lagos. He was very famous for his predictions, most of which allegedly came true.
He claimed many miracles, including making the cripple to walk, the deaf to hear, the dumb to talk, the blind to see. And he claimed to cure all kinds of illnesses and afflictions, ranging from heart diseases, to HIV/AIDS, to Cancer, to COVID 19.
He was the Founder of Emmanuel TV, where he showcased most of his miraculous feats. A number of countries banned the TV Station, but it was, also, a hit in some countries. He was especially a hit in Israel, a country he recently said he wanted to relocate to.
Arguably, TB Joshua was one of Nigeria’s highest foreign exchange earners, as thousands of people visited his Church seeking for miracles from all over the world. They came on religious tourism.
Even footballers and their Clubs visited him for blessings to score goals and win matches. He was also a well-known philanthropist.
In 2014, however, a tragedy befell him and his Church. A Guest House in the Church premises where he lodged foreigners, mostly, from South Africa, collapsed and killed over 100 people, mostly South Africans.
He was to inexplicably claim that a strange aircraft flew over his Church, and allegedly brought the Guest House down using chemicals. For that, he really never visited South Africa again.
The case is still in court. He and the Church and those involved in the construction of the Guest are being prosecuted.
At the time of writing this, it was not quite clear the circumstances which surrounded his passing, but a source close to him said he never showed any sign of ill-health, and died after a Church programme. He, allegedly, complained of weakness, and gave up on his way to hospital.
His body has been deposited in a mortuary.
He was preparing for his 58th birthday on June 12, 2021, a birthday he had said he would not celebrate elaborately because of the state of the Nation. He said he would spend the day praying.
TB Joshua to Evelyn, with whom he had three children – Sarah, Joshua and Promise.
Former Militant and Warlord for the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has rescinded his decision on the seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to reconstitute a substantive Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Board.
The ultimatum, which elapsed today June 5th, 2021, has been shifted till the end of June, 2021, for President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Obot Akpabio, to constitute the NDDC Board in accordance with the Act that brought the NDDC into existence.
Tompolo accepted, reluctantly, to withdraw the ultimatum earlier issued following several appeals from Nigerians including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, in the interest of peace.
In a statement issued, Saturday, June 5, 2021, Tompolo charged President Buhari and Akpabio, to immediately, constitute a substantive board for the interventionist agency.
According to him, “I issued a seven-day ultimatum on the above subject matter on Monday May 31st 2021. There were a lot of concerns expressed by Nigerians on this matter within this period, hence machineries were put in place for consultations among Nigerians, especially from highly placed individuals and organizations from the Niger Delta region, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“As I expressed in my press statement of Monday May 31st 2021, I came into this matter because of love for the region and Nigeria. I make bold to say that I cannot be compromised by money and other material things.
“However, the only thing one can do for Nigeria in these trying times, where all the six geopolitical zones are in turmoil, is to pray to God for peace and tranquility, particularly for the economic hub of the country, the Niger Delta region.
“Therefore, I welcomed the consultative meeting of our revered Traditional rulers from the region, Delta State Government, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) led by its President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, leaders from the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and other Nationalities with the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio in attendance, at the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza town on Thursday June 3rd 2021.
“The outcome of the meeting has been made known to the public by the Minister. He promised profusely to start the process of the constitution and inauguration of the substantive board of the NDDC immediately (from Friday June 4th 2021), and that he should be allowed to drive the process to an end on or before the end of June 2021.
“As it stands now, I have accepted the outcome of the meeting reluctantly. It is pertinent to state at this juncture that, I do not want anything to disrupt the relative peace we are enjoying in the region. It was on this premise that I accepted the outcome of the meeting.
“The ultimate goal in this issue, is for the Minister to abide by the promise he has made to start the process of constituting the NDDC board now. Government shenanigans must be put away in this matter as constituting the NDDC board is very dear to the heart of the people of the region.
“I wish to thank all our revered Traditional Rulers for their fatherly role they played in the matter, my father, Grand leader of the Ijaw Nation and Elder Statesman, Chief E. K Clark, for his concern and intervention in this matter, the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barr Kingsley Brutu Otuaro for their intervention, The President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, The Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rare Admiral A. Hassan, Leaders of the various Ethnic Nationalities for their solidarity, Youths of all the Ethnic Nationalities from the region, Women groups and others too numerous to mention here. I say thank you to all.
“It is my pray that the needful be done to develop the Niger Delta region as seen in advance climes”, the statement read.
It would be recalled that earlier in the week, Akpabio visited Gbaramatu Kingdom to plead with Tompolo and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta as regards the ultimatum, asking for it to rescinded.
He was, however, tongue- lashed by the people who accused him of acting like “god” in the NDDC, and running it like his own private enterprise.
Defiling heavy security presence in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, advocates of secessionist of South West from Nigeria, stormed the Ekiti State capital, to canvass for a self independent Yoruba Nation.
The Yoruba Nation agitators, under the aegis of Ilana Omo Oodua, trooped to the town from neighboring South-West states for a rally.
Led by Yoruba Activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also, known as Sunday Igboho, the agitators, comprising traditionalists, masquerades, women, traders, youths, motor cycle riders, artisans, and others, wore attires with the inscription ‘Omo Oduduwa ni mi.’
The protesters who converged on the Fajuyi park where they marched through major streets and to the Palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti Oba Rufus Adejugbe, to pay homage.
With various inscriptions such as “No going back on Yoruba nation”, We are ready to go”; Enough is Enough”; We are not slaves to Fulani”; No retreat, no surrender”; “Let Hausa go their way, let Fulani go their own way and Igbo people should also go,”
the people also rendered musics to back their demands.
Addressing the people, Igboho said that no efforts would be spared to rescue the Yoruba nation from the firm grips and vestiges of the Fulanis who have been oppressing the people of the southwest from time immemorial.
He said that it is high time Yoruba nation break-away from Nigeria and chart a new course for itself, adding that the Nigerian environment has been consistently harsh to the Yoruba people at the advantage of the Fulanis.
Igboho noted that everything would be done to ensure the emancipation of the region from the clutches of “evil-genius oppressors”, saying that Yoruba nation would break-away latest by the ending of December, this year.
He said that the people of the southwest have suffered in the last six years of the present administration and that the only option for the Yoruba to break the yoke of the continued subjagtion is to secede.
“Today, we are here to sensitise our people that we can no longer ensure the sufferings being meted out to us by Fulani feudal Lord’s. We are no longer slaves under them.
“The South has oil and water and other natural resources, but Fulani are the ones enjoying them. Most of our university graduates are Okada riders being what our politicians who tell lies recklessly have made us to be.
“Yoruba is the most educated race in Nigeria, but are these graduates getting jobs, no. Rather, our politicians would be buying motorbikes for them for Okada riding. This is wrong and would have to stop. Can they allow their children to be riding Okada?
“Today, they have shared everything that belongs to Nigeria among themselves. The President is a Fulani man, the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Army Staff, Chairmen of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Comptrollers General of Immigration and Customs are all Fulanis.
“Let me say this emphatically, we won’t vote in the Southwest in 2023. We need a government of our own. The Fulanis are kidnapping us and collecting ransom, killing and raping us and our leaders are watching because of politics. This will no longer be tolerated
“The next line of action now is that, we are entering the bush to chase away these Fulani herders. We don’t want them on our lands again. We will pursue them just like I have been saying.”
The Ekiti State Police Command has commenced investigations into the death of an Operative of the Directorate of the Security Service, (DSS) in Ado Ekiti at the weekend.
It was gathered that the DSS Operative, was allegedly stabbed to death by some soldiers while trying to mediate in an incident.
Police Spokesman in the State, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the killing of the Operative.
He described it as “unfortunate and mindless.”
According to him, the incident occurred on Friday evening at a Hotel located along NTA road, in Ado-Ekiti, during an argument that ensued between some soldiers and a DSS official, leading to the death of the later.
Mr Abutu stated that the Command had began an investigation to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident, adding that the deceased corpse had been deposited in the morgue.
It was gathered that the DSS operative was stabbed in the neck and bled profusely, leading to his death.
An eye witness explained that the incident happened as a result of a hot argument between the soldiers and the DSS staff after the soldiers arrested a young boy they suspected to be an internet fraudster inside the hotel.
“As the soldiers who were inside the hotel stopped the young man they suspected to be a ‘yahoo boy’ and interrogating him, the young man saw the DSS operative on a bike and beckoned on him for rescue.
“When the DSS got to the soldiers, a hot argument ensued between them, and one of the soldiers became so angry that he drew out a knife and stabbed the DSS operative on the neck.
“The DSS man fell immediately and started bleeding. The people relaxing at the hotel had to run for their lives, in fact, they hurriedly fled the scene to prevent being arrested.”
Few minutes after the tragic incident occurred, about six gun-wielding DSS operatives were reported to have stormed the hotel and whisked the soldiers away to their custody.
Facing an, almost, worldwide attacks and condemnation for banning the use of Twitter in Nigeria, the Presidency has distanced the downing of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Post by Twitter to its roundly condemned action. It said it had given Twitter a long rope.
Nigeria had banned Twitter after it took down Buhari’s Post, which the company saw as a hate speech, which boarders on a plan to perpetrate genocide.
But the FG, in the evening of Saturday, June 5, 2021, declared that removing Buhari’s Post, condemnable as it was had nothing as such to do with it, but has everything to do with Twitter’s seeming support for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
The FG maintained that the international network, Twitter, might have misconstrued President Mohamadu Buhari statement, which led to the suspension on its account.
SSA Media to the President, Garba Shehu, insisted that the Federal Government’s action to suspend Twitter, was not just because of President Buhari’s removal from the global network.
Shehu said in a statement that: “The temporary suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the removal of the President’s post.
“There has been 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. All the while, the company has escaped accountability.
“Nevertheless, the removal of President Buhari’s tweet was disappointing. The censoring seemed based on a misunderstanding of the challenges Nigeria faces today.
“The President in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA in 2019 said “the world was shocked and startled by the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman taking the lives of 50 worshippers.”
“This and similar crimes which have been fueled by social media networks risk seeping into the fabric of an emerging digital culture.
“Major Tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.
“President Buhari has, therefore, been warning against social media’s disruptive and divisive influences and the Government’s action is not a knee-jerk reaction to Twitter’s preposterous deletion of his tweet which should have been read in full.
“The tweet was not a threat, but a statement of fact.
“A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.
“When the President said that they will be treated “in a language they understand,” he merely reiterated that their force shall be met with force.
“It is a basic principle of security services response world over.
“This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’ right to freedom from harm. The Government cannot be expected to capitulate to terrorists.
“IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its members murder innocent Nigerians.
“They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.
“Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country’s civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.”
Earlier the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed had wondered why Twitter condone the posts by IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying that Twitter action was suspicious.
However, the Federal Government has come under condemnation for the ban on Twitter from Nigerians, and the International Community.
