Twitter ban, lift and 2023 general election

By Mustapha Sulyman Oluwatofunmi

Nigerian Politicians also use to promote their aspirations, ambitions and also for condemnation of their oppositions. Now, as the election is approaching and the ban is lifted, do you smell any connection?

Twitter is a global telecommunications company or a social networking service and a biggest online community. It’s a platform where various interactions, conversations and transactions are taking place. Ever since this platform has started operating in Nigeria, Nigerians have adopted it as one of the seamless social networking to advertise and promote their businesses and other personal or general activities. It’s also a platform where people take to, to express their pleasure, grieves or criticize or protest.

Nigerian politicians also see this avenue to campaign, propagate and criticize their opponents.

Whenever elections approach, this platform is always bombarded with bustle of different thoughts and criticisms.

With less accentuation, everyone will agree with me that seven months ago or so, exactly June 4, 2021, Nigerian government officially banned operation of twitter in the country. Though, the same twitter was used to make announcement. Lol !

This banning came after twitter deleted and suspended the tweets by our own president, President Muhammed Buhari(what insolence) giving a serious warning to southeastern people in the country which was believed to be a threat. The violent warning was what twitter stated to have gone against its rules as it(twitter) stated further saying; any promotion or embracement of violence is grossly against twitter guiding rules.

The twitter rule against violence reads thus; you may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence.

Left to my personal opinion, I never condemned Mr. President pronouncement because no serious government will tolerate violence under its government but, to take a critical look at twitter’s rules as well and do justice to the circumstance, then we all should agree that our “oga patapata(big boss) has violated the said platform rules. Though, we as a true citizens protested and criticized such imprudence.

However, this insult was not only melted on our president but also on that of former U.S president, Donald Trump who was also banned from twitter months before ours.

There after, people called for lifting of ban even up to international level but, government wouldn’t listen or acquiesce.

Now, after 7 months, Nigeria government announced the lift on twitter ban stating that “twitter has met all conditions to operate in the country again”.

This came after an intense hardships Nigerians have faced and endured on their promotion of businesses and all other activities because, during that period of ban, many businesses experienced set-backs as that’s the only online platform for many people to promote and advertise their businesses.

This day light lifting, is it honestly for Nigerians to go back to their various avenues on the platform for their legal businesses or a targeted arrangements as 2023 general election is fast approaching which is less than fourteen months?

Like I said earlier if you are actually following me raptly that, Twitter is a giant avenue where Nigerian Politicians also use to promote their aspirations, ambitions and also for condemnation of their oppositions. Now, as the election is approaching and the ban is lifted, do you smell any connection?

I can leave that question for you to honestly answer it.

Sulyman writes from Ilorin