The youths wing of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said President Muhammadu Buhari did not ban Twitter in Nigeria but on temporary suspension.
National youths leader of the ruling party, Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed, told newsmen Wednesday in Abuja that he was not personally happy about the development, adding that the controversy will soon be resolved amicably.
Barr. Ahmed who briefed the newsmen on why the well-publicized Progressive Youths Conference was postponed by a week, also clarified that Nigerian government did not ban social media contrary to insinuations.
“The government didn’t ban social media as a lot of people will insinuate, it is very important that we know that because Facebook is still in operation, Instagram is still in operation, Watzup is still in operation and a lot of other social media platforms still in operation. In fact, some people will tell you Twitter is for the elite young people and not necessary for the general public.
“I think there are far more subscribers of Facebook in Nigeria than they are of Twitter but having said that it’s still a very important medium for people. So for whatever it is that government felt to suspend Twitter, not ban, there was a suspension and ofcourse there is a conversation going on between the government and the representative of Twitter and I am sure it will be resolved.”
When asked how he personally felt about the development as a young man, the APC youths leader said: “We as young people our job is to represent our constituency and to plead with those we can plead with to come to amicable resolution.
“But as a government, if you are asking me as Ismaeel Ahmed whether I am okay with the suspension of a non-legal entity in Nigeria who feels it is okay for it to delete a tweet of the President without a recourse to a conversation with the government representatives if it can reach it, I think at some point government needed to reinstate that it is a sovereign Nation and that no company with whatever name that does not have any legal personality in Nigeria will do to it as it pleases. But I’m I happy that there is no Twitter today that I cannot tweet? Ofcourse not, but I hope there will be an amicable resolution and I hope Twitter will be responsible going forward.”
On the forthcoming youths conference, Ismail said President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to declare it open while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and other party leaders will be in attendance.
The youths leader added that five youths Representatives from each state will be given opportunity to be in attendance while others will join through zoom.
