News
Twitter suspension: US, UK, EU, others are hypocrites – Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has slammed the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries that criticised the suspension of social media giant, Twitter..
Mohammed, who described the foreign countries as hypocrites, said their views were purely based on economic reasons and not because they loved Nigeria.
The minister said this on NTAâs âGood Morning Nigeriaâ programme on Friday.
Mohammed said both the EU and the UK were already working on social media regulations and wondered why Nigeria was being accused of stifling free speech.
He added, âThe EU has recommended the same thing and Britain only on Wednesday spoke about a law that would regulate the social media. This is why I say they are being hypocritical. Like I said, I donât like commenting on issues that have to do with relations with Nigeria and other countries but clearly speaking, they are being less than honest.â
Mohammed said the Federal Government had constantly reached out to Twitter to bring down divisive comments like those of separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was fond of calling Nigeria a zoo.
The minister, however, said the social media platform never responded.
He asked Nigerians not to be deceived by foreign missions condemning the suspension of Twitter.
Mohammed added, âWe have seen so many foreign missions come up to condemn the action of Nigeria. Nigerians, please, make a distinction between countries that are trying to protect their economic and commercial interests from those countries that genuinely love you and talking about freedom of speech and donât forget for one minute that it is because there is a country called Nigeria that there is freedom of speech.â
The minister maintained that the Federal Government did not suspend Twitter because it deleted a tweet by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), which many found repugnant.
On the issue of Nigerians losing money to the Twitter suspension, Mohammed downplayed the complaints, saying that the Nigerian government was not generating any money in tax from the social media platform.
He said Nigerians must note that it is only when there is peace that business can take place.
âMaybe the child is not hisâ â AY Comedian and estranged wife Mabel reportedly battle over custody of their second child
âNorthern governors not opposed to tax reforms, just VAT distribution” â Abdullahi Sule
Security guard who shot his wife, their child and k!lled two sisters-in-law sentenced to 35 years imprisonment
Man celebrates growth, moves roadside âsuyaâ business to big shop in UK
Missing 35-year-old man found dead near Ogun stream
Auto crash claims three lives in Jigawa
âI am not happy about itâ â Paul Okoyeâs wife, Ivy speaks on his birthday message to his ex-wife, Anita, her stepchildren, and Psquareâs split (Video)
