…as FG accuses media firm of double standards
Twitter, the social media company has deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Biafran war of 1967-1970 which led to the death of many Nigerians, especially Ibos.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” Buhari had said in the controversial tweet.
Twitter had commented that: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules”.
According to its rule, such a tweet had to be pulled down before the Tweeter would be allowed to make further tweets.
Although he did not mention any names, it was clear that Buhari’s comment was directed at the Ibos, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra, the organization championing the demand for the Republic of Biafra.
IPOB is led by Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently directing the organization from his London base.
The government has blamed IPOB for various attacks, including the killing of soldiers and policemen, being carried out in the Southeastern region, the base of the organization. The government believes that IPOB is carrying out these activities through its military wing named Eastern Security Network.
The Nigerian civil war that Buhari referred to was between the Nigerian Federal government against the region that declared itself the Republic of Biafra, led then by Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu. The war ended in the defeat of Biafra.
Most estimates say that three million Ibos died during the war.
Besides Twitter, many Nigerians have also condemned the statement, noting that the president’s comments showed insensitivity on his part, considering that many people, mostly Ibos died during the 30-month war.
Such persons also point out that the present administration has not used such hard words on northern elements who have been fomenting trouble in the country.
But the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has accused Twitter of exhibiting double standards in deleting the post by Buhari.
Mohammed told journalists in Abuja Wednesday that Twitter had conveniently ignored inciting tweets by Kanu.
“Twitter may have its own rules, they are not the universal rules. If Mr President, anywhere in the world, feels very bad and concern about a situation, he is free to express such views,” he told State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa.
“Now, we should stop comparing apples with oranges. If an organisation is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed also accused Twitter of displaying the same bias during the #ENDSARS protest last October, which led to the destruction of government and private property.
