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House PDP Caucus Threatens Legal Action against FG over Twitter Ban

June 6, 2021 1:30 pm

By Adedayo Akinwale

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has threatened to drag the federal government to court over the recent ban on Twitter operations in the country.

It described the decision as an act of desperation of a non-performing and failed government to intimidate and cow the citizens to consolidate its hold on power by brute force.

The Leader of the caucus, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Twitter has become an integral component of the citizens’ ability to keep the government in check and to provide real-time on the impact of the government’s activities on the citizenry.

He added that the subsequent directive to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to license social media operators in the country was a surreptitious attempt to introduce the unpopular ‘Social Media Bill’ by mere executive fiat.

Chinda said: “On Friday, 4th June, 2021, Nigerians received with rude shock the news of the federal government’s indefinite ‘suspension’ of Twitter Nigeria. This rather rash suspension was supposedly anchored on the allegation that Twitter had allowed its platform to be used ‘for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence’.”

The caucus stressed that as expected, the announcement has sent shockwaves amongst believers in democracy and rule of law across Nigeria and the entire world.

It pointed out that the suspension of Twitter was one more step in a litany of attempts to restrict the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens as enshrined in and guaranteed by Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

It added: “We hereby give you notice that in the event of the failure, refusal and or neglect of the federal government to withdraw, reverse and/or cease the implementation of these oppressive and unconstitutional actions, we shall be constrained to institute legal proceedings at the appropriate judicial venue within the shortest possible time.”

The caucus said it was worrisome that at a time when the country faces a real existential crisis and totters on the brink of implosion from acute challenges such as widespread insecurity, government appears to be more preoccupied with stifling the right of Nigerian citizens to freely express themselves on social media and elsewhere.

“Therefore, we condemn the federal government’s decision to suspend Twitter in the strongest possible and call on the authorities to immediately rescind this decision in the interest of free speech and the rule of law, indeed in the interest of democracy,” the caucus said.


The opposition lawmakers stressed that the supposed suspension imposed on Twitter has no legal foundation as executive fiats, no matter the language they’re couched, have no force of law.

The caucus insisted that no citizen can be tried for an offence that has no basis in law or backed by a written law and punishment prescribed.

It said for many Nigerians, social media is not only a means of escape from the drudgery of daily existence, but has become a veritable source of employment, ment and meaningful engagement.

It noted that as opposition lawmakers, its objectives are to ensure compliance with the rule of law, good governance, the preservation of law and order, fidelity to the principles of constitutionalism and the general adherence to democratic ethos and principles in public istration throughout the length and breadth of the federation.

The caucus said as custodians of the constitution and representatives of the Nigeria people, it called on the federal government to immediately reverse the decision to suspend the access of Nigerian citizens to Twitter.

It further called on the Ministry of Information and Culture to immediately rescind its directive to the NBC to begin the licensing of social media operators in the country, having regard to the absence of any enabling legislative framework for such directive.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/06/06/house-pdp-caucus-threatens-legal-action-against-fg-over-twitter-ban/

The people's voices must prevail.
Ban on peaceful protest, ban on cryptocurrency, now ban on Twitter. It actually sounds like BANdits

It is their right to go to court..

However, Twitter remains Suspended..

Wike should caution his boy, this is bigger than him

Courts that are on strike?

Who sai. Make we leave matter for Matthias

Mynd44:
Courts that are on strike?

Lol

H,

Nothing works in this country

Oh please! Even thieves wants to have a say too. PDP should stop antagonising the polity already. They destroyed every hope the Nigerian people had for a prosperous nation. They destroyed everything. They stole our collective wealth for their own private use. Spits on them, they should hide their faces in shame

Do you think you can threat a dictatorship?, Action is what we needs.

did the FG actually ban Twitter cus of June 12 just thinking outside the box

Lol buhari that does not respect court orders

CilicMarin:
It is their right to go to court..

However, Twitter remains Suspended..

Is ok

You need to see the way Lai Mohammed took this matter upon himself ehn.

My question is....there has been many killings since the twitter ban...and these motherfuckers kept quiet. If this is not telling you something. Then you need to examine your head

To hell with this istration and their demonic ers. They will have their reward as their cup will soon get filled..

If you can harm man, but you can't harm God and you will all answer to Him one day

PDP and APC,. All of you are mad including your miserable ers.

All I want is REFERENDUM!

Bata wahala phase 2 ����

I thought we do not have representatives anymore

The bottom line is Twitter has been banned. Say no to PDP and their terrorist wing.... Nigeria should come first and not a useless app that only serve the interest of it country through fake news.

Ok

PDP should shut the fucck up!

Buhari is the country's chief executive officer and C-in-C of the armed forces ...

A group of Americans in Twitter's headquarters in California shouldn't belittle and undermine the president's power without getting spanked.

Twitter should tender an unreserved apology to the president with a promise to always delete tweets that compromise the sovereignity and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

The hunch-back, ashewo-fuckin', demented, IPOBic albino based in the U.K should also be permanently banned from Twitter.

Without doing the aforementioned, the ban remains.

PDP and Jack Dorsey can fucck themselves in the anus. Awọn werey!

K

Nice one

SaintLucia:
The bottom line is Twitter has been banned. Say no to PDP and their terrorist wing.... Nigeria should come first and not a useless app that only serve the interest of it country through fake news.

I have never seen any sane Buhari er

Ehen na