Nigerian filmmaker turned politician, Desmond Elliot, has
learnt his voice against the Federal Government’s decision to ban Twitter
operations in Nigeria.
On Friday the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai
Mohammed, via a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi,
announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.
The statement read, “The Federal Government has suspended,
indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking
service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
“The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday,
citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of
undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
“The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed
the National Broadcasting Commission to immediately commence the process of
licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.”
Early today, the Twitter ban took effect to the displeasure
of many Nigerians especially celebrities who use the platform to communicate
directly with their fans.
In a Twitter thread, Elliot, the lawmaker representing
Surulere at the Lagos State House of Assembly called on the federal government
to reverse the suspension stating that the ban, ‘no matter the reasons
proffered tramples upon our fundamental rights as people.’
The legislator said, “I want to admonish our government to
always remember that the people’s right to express themselves freely must not
be compromised. This ban, no matter the reasons proffered tramples upon our
fundamental rights as people.”
Elliot reminded the government that Nigerian youths trade
their wares and advertise their businesses and services via the micro-blogging
site.
He said, “In a democratic society like ours, we must weigh
the economic and social impact of this ban on the populace — especially our
teeming youths and entrepreneurs who depend solely on this platform to carry
out their legitimate business.
“In the past, our government have shown the required
goodwill to stand on side of the people even when it’s not too convenient for
them to do so. I believe that this won’t be an exception. I want to appeal to
the government to reconsider this ban in the interest of our people and our
country at large.”
Meanwhile, the politician has come under fire several times
on Twitter after some of his comments did not sit down well with Nigerian
youths.
For instance, in October 2020, during the #EndSARS protest,
Elliot was heavily criticized for allegedly supporting Anti-Social Media Bills
in Nigeria; an allegation he earlier denied when the news first filtered in via
social media.
However, in a viral video that still circulates all over the
internet, he was seen criticizing social media users and influencers,
emphasising that if the Nigerian state doesn’t stop social media, it will
destroy the country.
His comments were not taken lightly by Nigerians on social
media and thus the popular Nigerian pidgin slang, Na Desmond Elliot Cause Am,
meaning It’s Desmond Elliot’s fault, was born. The slangs trends occasionally
on the Nigerian Twitter space.
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Desmond Elliot is is not only confused, but controversial. Wasn't he the one who stood on his feet in Lagos House and condemned, and advocated the ban of social media during the#EndSARS? We have not forgotten. Desmond probably needs psychiatric evaluation.
ReplyDeleteDesmond Elliot is is not only confused, but controversial. Wasn't he the one who stood on his feet in Lagos House and condemned, and advocated the ban of social media during the#EndSARS? We have not forgotten. Desmond probably needs psychiatric evaluation.
ReplyDelete