The Federal Government has accused American microblogging and social network service, Twitter of double standards following its decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet referencing the civil war.
Buhari had in a series of tweets on Tuesday via 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”.
But in reaction on Wednesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused Twitter of showing sympathy for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Mohammed said the social media giant has conveniently ignored inciting tweets by its Nnamdi Kanu and his cohorts.
He said Twitter ignored Kalu’s remarks that encouraged the killing of Police personnel and the show of similar biases during the ENDSARS protest where government and private properties were looted and set on fire, considering it human rights.
Mohammed, who wondered why the organisation now found President Buhari’s tweet offensive, said Twitter’s role is suspect and Nigeria will not be fooled.
He said: “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.”
