Twitter Suspension: Respect Right To Freedom Of Expression, Sweden Tells FG

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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”.