APC chieftain, Ajumbe backs FG ban on Twitter in Nigeria

By Christiana Ekpa

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State and former Imo State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities, Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, has hailed the Federal Government for suspending indefinitely, the operations of the micro blogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
In a press statement he signed in Owerri, Ajumbe said the ban became necessary, considering the indiscriminate use of the platform by those who threaten Nigeria’s unity and corporate existence.
The two times Commissioner in Imo State stated, “The Federal Government should be commended and not vilified for taking a wise decision by suspending the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.
“It is regrettable that Twitter availed its platform to those who spewed messages of hate, which was capable of disintegrating the country.
“And no government will watch and allow those who fan the embers of discord continue to use their platforms that aid the dissemination of hate and divisive messages”, he stated.
Prof. Ajumbe also condemned Twitter for suspending the account of President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that the President only expressed his views on rising insecurity in the country, and proffered ways of tackling it.
“The President’s comments were not genocidal or targeted against any tribe. He simply said he was going to deal headon the alarming rate of insecurity across the country”, he said.
Prof. Ajumbe added that it was wrong for Twitter to delete the President’s post, which was completely twisted out of context to suit the divisive tendencies of those against the unity of the country.