fbpx
News

FG accuses Twitter of double standard after Buhari’s tweet deleted

Thr Federal Government of Nigeria has accused Twitter of double standard after the social media giant deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.

The tweet by Buhari reads: “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

It was deleted after many Nigerians described the president’s tweet as insensitive, with the social media giant saying it violated its “abusive behaviour” policy.

However, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, said Twitter had conveniently ignored inciting tweets by the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and others.

The minister said the social media giant also displayed the same bias during the #ENDSARS protest during which government and private property were either looted or destroyed.

He said Twitter’s role is suspicious and Nigeria would not be fooled.

He said, “Twitter may have its own rules, they are not the universal rules. If Mr President, anywhere in the world, feels very bad and concern about a situation, he is free to express such views.

“Now, we should stop comparing apples with oranges. If an organisation is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed.

“Two, any organisation that gives directives to its members, to attack police stations, to kill policemen, to attack correctional centres, to kill warders, and you are now saying that Mr President does not have the right to express his dismay and anger about that?

“They are the ones guilty of double standards. I don’t see anywhere in the world where an organisation, a person will stay somewhere outside Nigeria and will direct his members to attack the symbols of authority, the police, the military, especially when that organisation has been proscribed.

“By whatever name, you can’t justify giving orders to kill policemen or to kill anybody you do not agree with.”

Back to top button

Discover more from Dateline Nigeria

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading