Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has refused to take a stand on Twitter restriction in Nigeria, claiming that the Federal government which took the decision have the prognosis and security information that he does not have for him to say whether or not it was a right or wrong move.
He however called on the Federal Government and Twitter to embrace peace and allow the rights of freedom of expression of the people to prevail.
Sanwo-Olu had said this on AriseTV on Monday where he was asked about Twitter restriction in Nigeria.
He said he does not have the same prognosis as the President, and so, he cannot say if what was done is wrong or right.
He said “Why I would not want to unnecessarily join issues around the Twitter, just last week I was on a fact finding tour to some of the tech hubs in Lagos; flutter wave, impact hub… We went round to encourage our great youths who are entrepreneurs in that space and we’ll continue to support them.
“Regarding the specifics around Twitter, I cannot sit down here with all of the responsibilities that I have and fly the commander in chief of the armed forces. He would have the prognosis and security information that I do not have and I cannot begin to say that was it done is right or wrong.”
“On both sides, there are issues that can be resolved between Twitter and the Government and I think what they’ve done is not a ban but a suspension like they said, so in the period of suspension let us sit down…we need to have that conversation with them,” he explained.
The reaction by Governor Sanwo-Olu came after Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday announced the suspension of Twitter’s activities in Nigeria, two days after the platform removed a tweet by his handle that threatened to punish secessionists.
The head of state denied that the Twitter suspension was a response to the removal of that 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,” a presidency spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement.
Shehu said the removal of Buhari’s tweet was “disappointing” and that “major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities.”
It is even now a crime to use Twitter in Nigeria. And Buhari and his entire team risk suspension from the social media App. when the ban is lifted.