Sweden has reacted to the Federal Government’s suspension of the operations of the micro blogging and social networking service, Twitter.
Recall that the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed had announced the “indefinite” suspension in a statement on Friday by his spokesman Segun Adeyemi.
Sweden’s embassy in Nigeria, in a terse post via its Twitter handle, noted Nigerians have the constitutional right to exercise their freedom of expression.
Nigerians have a constitutional right to exercise their freedom of expression and a right to access of information. This must be respected. Safeguarding free, independent media and civic spaces for democratic voices is an important part of Sweden’s #DriveForDemocracy #TwitterBan
— Sweden in Nigeria (@SwedeninNigeria) June 4, 2021
It further stated this constitutional right must be respected.
“Nigerians have a constitutional right to exercise their freedom of expression and a right to access of information. This must be respected.
“Safeguarding free, independent media and civic spaces for democratic voices is an important part of Sweden’s #DriveForDemocracy #TwitterBan,” Sweden stated.
Also, the British deputy high commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, says government must respect rights to freedom of speech.
But in a tweet, Atkinson said any measure taken by the government must be measured.
“All Nigerians have the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility not to misuse that right. Any action taken by Government must be measured, proportionate and not supress basic freedoms,” she tweeted.
All Nigerians have the right to freedom of speech and the responsibility not to misuse that right. Any action taken by Government must be measured, proportionate and not supress basic freedoms.
— Gill Atkinson (@GillAtkinson11) June 4, 2021
Twitter’s suspension by the federal government comes days after a post by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 1967 civil war was deleted by the microblogging platform.
In a series of posts on Twitter on Tuesday, the president had condemned the attacks on government facilities in the country.
Citing a reference to the civil war experience, Buhari had threatened to treat those “bent on destroying” Nigeria “through insurrection” in “a language they understand”.
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