The executive Governor of Oyo State has reacted to the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the federal government.
The federal government had supposedly retaliated to the deletion of its “civil war” tweet by suspending Twitter Operations in Nigeria.
The belief is that Twitter deleted the President’s tweet because it has an hand in the struggle for self-determination that some groups are clamouring for in the country.
In his reaction, however, Seyi Makinde said that leaders should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how actions will affect the people.
As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically.
He further pointed out that the suspended Twitter has become a platform where young people come to argue and say their opinion on issues that affect them.
“They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to government and its agencies who in turn, use these to improve policies. This is a fundamental point that should be kept in mind as we debate the necessity of this suspension.”
Similarly, he noted that Twitter has become a means of livelihood for young people in Nigeria. For instance, many people brand their business on Twitter and make their money.
We should also remember that Twitter has gone beyond a source of communication for many of our hardworking youths in Nigeria. It has become a source of livelihood for many, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious leanings.
He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to reverse the suspension and use it as greater tool for national development.