The Federal Government has accused social media giant, Twitter of double standards following it’s decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s Tweet referencing the civil war.
The minister of Information and Culture. Lai Mohammed made the allegation on Wednesday while speaking with state house correspondents at the presidential villa in Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria recalled that the president had in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle, @Mbuhari, tweeted: “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.”
Following several complaints, Twitter deleted the tweet, stating: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules”.
Reacting to the development, the Minister accused Twitter of double standard saying it had conveniently ignored ignored inciting tweets by the Indigenous People of Biafra( IPOB) , Nnamdi Kanu, and others.
Also Mohammed said twitter displayed the same bias during the #ENDSARS protest,during which government and private properties were destroyed and some looted.
The minister who wondered why the organization now found President Buhari’s tweet offensive, said Twitter’s role is suspect and Nigeria will not be fooled.
“Twitter may have its own rules, it’s not the universal rule. 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?
“Are we 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.”
