Twitter Would Be Lifted: The Gift of New Year -By Damilare Adeleye

On Monday, I was thrilled. Though, I did not win any lottery as many Nigerians struggle to do due to the unending economic hardship and harsh, unfriendly business environment bewildering the country. I got excited when I read that the microblogging social media platform, Twitter, has met the conditions put forward by the Nigerian government. Consequentially, it is being assumed that the prevailing ban would possibly be lifted soon than later this year. Even though this positive development came in barely a few months to the general election; still, I was glad that majority of Nigerian Twitter users would soon have access back to the blue Bird App. As it were, only those who use virtual private network (VPN) have been the ones able to boycott the suspension and continuing using the App in Nigeria.

Sincerely speaking, I strongly commend the management of Twitter for their commitment to Nigerians. For their sacrifices and endurance to make the social platform available to vast Nigerians without relenting, despite the government restrictions. Twitter, in Nigeria and global communities , is more than a social App. It has been an instrument to facilitate citizen journalism. Moreover, it is often used to report erring public officials and to hold public office holders to account while discharging their statutory duties as constitution demands. However, to our government, I hail them for their game of politics. They too have tried hard enough in the game and they have had their fair share.

Despite the public and global outcry and condemnation when Twitter operation was indefinitely suspended around June 4 last year, the government led by our Major General Muhammadu Buhari did not heed. And neither succumb to public opinion. They rather proactively justified the ban a cogent measure to salvage national security of the country which could be undermined by Twitter. Though, the social App also severed as an avenue for secessionist groups threating the sovereignty of Nigeria’s territory. But, that ought to have warranted the indefinite suspension. Coincidentally, how on Earth would a mere and ordinary Twitter management took down the almighty tweet of our Mr President, the Commander- in- Chief. It was disrespectful and contemptuous to the throne of Presidency. By implication, as a way to deal with the platform, our active communication minister urgently did the needful then. Even without considering the economic implication, the government swiftly moved ahead to take such callous action of blocking Twitter operation. According to a report quoted from the Punch Newspaper of 22 of December last year, Nigeria’s economy loses an equivalent of N104.02m every hour to the Twitter ban. Not only that, most Nigerians who had been using the platform to make their ends meet have been incredibly jobless. This, undoubtedly, accumulates to the rapid growth of unemployment and economic tsunami witnessing in the country.

Certainly, it gave me joy to hear that Twitter would be soon restored back in Nigeria. And we can be optimistic that the positive economic effects would bounce back, even in multiple folds to recover our national lost.

What is more, nothing is unpredictable in our country. A friend of mine told me lately last year when I was showing resentment on Twitter ban that our government would definitely lift the ban when the general election gets closer. And likely, it is!

Whether Twitter has met the given conditions or otherwise, the fact is that the ease of the ban would also come in handy for our politicians and their sycophants in their electioneering towards the forthcoming general election. As it had happened in the past; so shall it be in the present. In other words, the ruling APC led government cannot denied the unmeasurable influence of Twitter in the 2015 general election which brought their emergence into government. So, now that 2023 is also around the corner, they deem fit it is high time to release Twitter from their dungeon. This may read as conspiracy theory. Yet, most times, such theory may not be unreal.

Anyway, I still consider the soonest possible release of Twitter as New Year’s gift from President Buhari led administration. However, I believe posterity will do everyone well and accordingly in the future.

Damilere Adeleye is a content writer and an undergraduate in Lagos State University.