Separatists used Twitter for their Agenda – Lai Mohammed

If you are one of those that felt the true intention behind the Twitter ban by the Nigerian government was more than just the delete of the President’s tweet,  pat yourself on the back because you are right.

Today, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was interviewed in “Politics Nationwide.’’ A Radio Nigeria call-in programme regulated by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja and he made interesting revelations.

During the interview, he disclosed that the Twitter ban was not just because Twitter deleted the tweet of the President, but because the platform is used by those who seek to divide Nigeria to spread their ideas, and how the platform played a huge role in the EndSARS campaign.

Lai Mohammed accused Twitter of being used to promote the ideas of those seeking the division of Nigeria.

In his words,

“Twitter has become a platform of choice for a particular separatist promoter.”

“The promoter consistently used the platform to direct his loyalists to kill Nigerian soldiers and policemen, run-down INEC offices and destroy all symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty.”

ALSO READ: How the Arab Spring Started

Lai Mohammed further claimed that severe attempts were made to get Twitter to stop letting this separatist leader use their platform, but Twitter did not take their complaint seriously. 

The minister further accused the founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, of retweeting tweets of some of the coalitions aiding the EndSARS protest. He went on to assert that the tech guru initiated a fundraiser in which he requested for people to donate through Bitcoins towards the EndSARS protests. He claimed that this information was not just his speculation, but was confirmed by an online media outfit that conducted investigations. 

The Information Minister contended that due to the role Twitter played in the EndSARS protest, the company is responsible for the damages incurred from the protests.

In his words,

“If you ask people to donate money via bitcoins for EndSARS protesters then you are vicariously liable for whatever is the outcome of the protest.”

You can read more here.

The minister disclosed that whoever is not pleased by the Twitter ban should not expect an apology from the  Federal Government, as there is none to tender. According to him, peace in Nigeria was more paramount than the exercise of freedom of speech, or even the source of livelihood of some Nigerians.

ALSO READ: Iyabo Ojo Speaks on the Tope Alabi Scandal