…Says Youths Are Hurting, Nigeria Is Hurting
…Nigerians Losing Money, Source Of Income
With the barrage of scathing knocks and criticisms trailing the ban placed on microblogging site, Twitter by the Federal Government, another Nigerina state governor has called on the government to exercise restraint.
Following on the heels of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former governor of Ekiti State, Nobel laureate, Prof Woke Soyinka, and the Nigerian Bar Associating, NBA, who have not only condemned the ban, but also called for its lifting, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pleaded with the Federal Government to lift the ban.
Speaking on Monday on Arise TV programme, ‘The Morning Show,’ Sanwo-Olu insisted that the ban has made millions of Nigerians to not only lose money, but source of income and livelihood, declaring, “The decision to ban the microblogging site was affecting the youth.
“Lagos is hurting, our youths are hurting, Nigeria is hurting; let us understand the issues and put it behind us so that we don’t politicise it.
“People are losing money, but there are also security issues. Let us be circumspect and not throw the baby away with the bathwater.” Persecondnews quotes the governor as saying.
Without apportioning blame on the propriety of President Muhammadu Buhari’s action, Sanwo-Olu said that the President must have taken the decision based “on the information he received.”
Sanwo-Olu maintained that as a way out, the Buhari government can sign ‘rules of engagement’ with the San Francisco, US-based social media giant on Twitter usage in Nigeria.
He said, “Regarding the specifics around Twitter, I cannot sit down here with all of the responsibilities that I have and fly (sic) the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“He would have the prognosis and security information that I do not have. I cannot begin to say that what he’s done is right or wrong.
“What I see is that on both sides, there are issues that can be resolved, between Twitter and the (Federal) Government and I think what they have done is not a ban but a suspension.
“So, in the period of suspension, let us sit down…we need to have that conversation with them (Twitter).
“In other climes, they sign some underlying agreements on the rules of engagement. I am not sure that is happening here.
“Having said that, the Federal Government can also handle things a lot better, because of the number of e-commerce, the number of youths that are doing a lot of things on the internet and we cannot throw that away.”
Calling for restraint, Sanwo-Olu said, “I believe there could be better restraint and management from both sides. In the next one or two days, let us see that happen.
“Our youths are hurting, Nigeria is hurting.”
