Following the indefinite suspension placed on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria by the Federal Government, the British and Canadian missions in Nigeria have expressed concern over the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s infringement on freedom of speech.
In his Twitter comments, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, said Nigerian citizens have the right to freedom of speech, stressing that the government must not take actions that will suppress their human rights freedom.
In his words; “All Nigerians have the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility not to misuse that right. Any action taken by Government must be measured, proportionate and not suppress basic freedoms,” @GillAtkinson11 tweeted
Similarly, the High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Nicolas Simard, via his Twitter handle said; “freedom of speech is fundamental human rights protected by the constitution and a cornerstone for democracy across the world”.
Simard noted that human right should be protected while hate speech that could lead to conflicts should be prevented.
He said; “Freedom of speech, used responsibly online and off line, and access to reliable information are fundamental human rights protected by #Nigeria’s constitution and a cornerstone of democratic life around the world. (1/2) #TwitterBan,” Mr Simard tweeted via @NicolasJSimard.
He also said; “These #HumanRights should be fully protected, while preventing inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech that could fuel tension and conflict. (2/2) #TwitterBan #Nigeria”.
Following the deleting of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet considered as violating community rules by Twitter, the Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday, June 4, 2021 announced the indefinite suspension of the operations of microblogging platform -Twitter and also moved to take actions against other social media platforms.
Buhari in the tweet deleted by Twitter had threatened to deal with “those misbehaving” in the South-East in the manner the Nigerian forces fought Biafrans during the Civil War, a sore reference in Nigerian history where over three million Igbos where killed.
Buhari was reacting to the escalating destruction of offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other public facilities in the Southeast geopolitical zone that has seen growing calls for secession being promoted by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Political observers noted that Buhari’s threat of a disproportionate action against criminals in the South-East betrays his disdain for the geopolitical zone and question why similar rage was not directed to bandits and insurgents in the Northern parts where the criminals have launched deadlier attacks on the state and millions of people.
