Former U.S. President, Donald Trump has congratulated Nigeria for suspending the operations of Twitter in the country. twitter ban
Trump in a statement, commended Nigeria for the action, while calling on more;countries to “ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing free and open speech.”
“Congratulations to the country of Nigeria, who just banned Twitter because they banned their President.
“More countries should ban Twitter and Facebook… All voices should be heard”.
Trump, who had more than 60 million followers before his suspension, said;banning Twitter and Facebook would bring about competition in the social networking sites. The former U.S. leader also expressed regrets for not taking action against them while he was president.
“In the meantime, competitors will emerge and take hold. Who are they to dictate good and evil if they themselves are evil? Perhaps, I should have done it while I was President. But Zuckerberg kept calling me and coming to the White House for dinner telling me how great I was”.
Trump also made an indirect reference to his speculated 2024 presidential ambition by simply saying “2024?”
It can be recalled that in January, Twitter and Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts indefinitely.
The two social networking sites claimed that he used the platforms;to mobilize his followers to invade Capitol Hill over the outcome of the November 2020 presidential election after he lost.
Facebook, in a statement by Nick Clegg, Vice-President of Global;Affairs, cited “severe violation” after Capitol Hill riots of January 6 and that Trump’s;accounts would only be reinstated if conditions permitted. Also,. Again,. Meanwhile,. Also,. More so,.
Meanwhile, Trump has struggled for attention since his access to Twitter and Facebook were blocked. He therefore opened his personal website to enable him to continue reaching millions of his supporters. However, the website he launched last month was closed because of poor traffic. More so,. Again,. Also,. More so,
More insight on the ban on Twitter in Nigeria
The Federal Government has suspended the operations of Twitter indefinitely;due to its use for activities that were capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence. Again,. Meanwhile,. Yet,. Again,. That notwithstanding,.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension;of the micro-blogging social network, days after Twitter deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly violating its policy.
That notwithstanding, Minister Lai Mohammed in a recent interview;stated that the platform was being used by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the separatist group; Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to direct attacks against the government in the south-east region. More so,. Again,.
Also, Nigeria’s national broadcasting regulator, NBC, announced that;it would begin “licensing all internet streaming services and social media operations in Nigeria”.
Nonetheless, the professional body of Nigerian mobile phone operators, Alton, said;its members were told by the government to block access to Twitter in the country.
Meanwhile, several Nigerians, including prominent politicians, news websites, and churches, are continuing to tweet using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
The authorities have said they will prosecute anyone found;to have breached the ban, however they have not yet announced any arrests.
Nevertheless, a group of human rights organizations have indicated;that it has filed a case with a West African regional court against the Twitter;ban, saying it contravenes the right to the freedom of expression. Also,. Meanwhile,. Again,. Meanwhile,
Read also: It’s deeply concerning and we’re investigating- Twitter responds to ban in Nigeria
