Tobi Adebayo
Human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong has knocked the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed over his claim that Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey was responsible for the killings and destruction of property during the #EndSARS protests.
Effiong, who sued the Federal Government to court over the suspension of Twitter, said this during an interview with Arise News monitored by THIS NIGERIA.
The activist also accused the Information Minister of trying to distract Nigerians from the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He also faulted the amendment of the National Broadcasting Commission Act and described it as a “backdoor act meant to stifle the freedom of speech of Nigerians.
“The #EndSARS protest was about extra-judicial killings, extortion and brutality by the Police. It had nothing to do with the founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey. I do not understand the basis for the hilarious comment made by the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed. Twitter did not in any way contribute to the violence that erupted as a result of the protest.
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“At the Lagos Panel of Inquiry set up to look into the happenings that took place during the protest, it was confirmed that not less than 99 Nigerians were killed, including three at the Lekki Toll Gate. How did Jack cause that? The truth is that social media has become a tool for veritable civic engagement in Nigeria and globally. Lai Mohammed is only trying to distract people from the failure of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration which includes daily killings, poverty and other vices.
“Lai Mohammed is only dwelling on frivolities to distract Nigerians. Twitter had nothing to do with the killings and destruction during the protest. It is not responsible for killings by herdsmen nor the reason behind the naira becoming worthless day after day. This is the same social media that ushered in the Buhari regime. It was the same platform that they used to demonise Goodluck Jonathan. This is a military regime disguised as a democratic one.
“The ban on Twitter is not about Nnamdi Kanu nor IPOB nor ESN. It is not even about fake news. This is about a regime that is becoming increasingly intolerant to the criticisms of its failures.,” Inibehe Effiong said.
