Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday came out in support of the Nigerian government’s decision to block access to Twitter in the West African country — and called on more nations to follow suit.
“Congratulations to the country of Nigeria, who just banned Twitter because they banned their President,” Trump said in an emailed statement.
“More COUNTRIES should ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing free and open speech—all voices should be heard.
“In the meantime,” the former president continued, “competitors will emerge and take hold. Who are they to dictate good and evil if they themselves are evil? Perhaps I should have done it while I was President. But [Facebook founder Mark] Zuckerberg kept calling me and coming to the White House for dinner telling me how great I was. 2024?”
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and Culture announced Friday that Twitter’s operations had been “suspended indefinitely” due to its use for “activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.” The ministry was widely mocked for posting its statement about blocking Twitter on its Twitter account.
Earlier last week, the social media giant that has been rebuked for censoring mostly conservative viewpoints, deleted a tweet by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari that appeared to threaten secessionist groups in the Biafra region.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War,” Buhari tweeted, referring to the Biafra Conflict, which killed 1 million people between 1967 and 1970. “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”
In addition to deleting the tweet as violating its “abusive behavior” policy, Twitter suspended Buhari’s account for 12 hours.
“We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society,” Twitter said in a statement Saturday. “We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world.”
Trump himself received a permanent ban from Twitter in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol. Facebook announced Friday that its own ban on the former president would remain in place until at least Jan. 7, 2023, but could be extended. Last month, a Facebook review board upheld the president’s suspension, but criticized its open-ended aspect.
Trump called Facebook’s decision “an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election.
“They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win,” Trump added. “Our Country can’t take this abuse anymore!”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased import duty on cargoes imported into the country by N23 after the apex bank hiked the exchange rate from N381 to N404.97 per dollar.
Experts believe such an increase will lead to a hike in the prices of goods imported into the country.
The CBN, yesterday, officially increased the exchange rate for cargo clearance from its initial N381 per dollar to N404. 97 per dollar, even as freight forwarders have raised an alarm over imminent inflation in the Nigerian market due to increase in the prices of goods.
However, the public relations officer, Tin Can Island Customs Command, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, who confirmed the increase, said it was not the function of Customs to increase the exchange rate but that of CBN.
The N23 difference has however, been effected on the customs systems by its IT service providers; Web Fontaine.
Reacting to the development, a freight forwarder, Mr. Emeka Efi Okonkwo, expressed surprise at the suddenness of the increase without recourse to stakeholders.
He said this would further increase the prices of goods at the Nigerian market, and would add to the economic pressure being experienced across the country.
“When we went to access a job this morning, we were told that the exchange rate has been increased, though we have been expecting it, but we didn’t expect that it would be so sudden. The implication of this on cargo clearance is that; cost of clearance would increase by $24.
“The cargoes that are already enroute Nigeria would also be affected, the cargoes that we want to clear this morning were affected. When you go back to the importer and request for money, they will tell you there is no notification of increase from customs, so the freight forwarders are the ones who bear the additional cost,” he lamented.
Okonkwo said freight forwarding professionals need to be guided before such increases are coming up, so that they would be able to advise their importers on the new cost regime obtainable at the ports.
“The customs officials are working for the federal government, so they should have issued circulars to this effect much earlier, so that we can make predictions. This was the same way they increased it last year without any notification.
“Already, goods are expensive in the market, this would further add to the inflation in the Nigerian market, in addition to insecurity in the country. Major stakeholders no longer ship cargoes into Nigeria and the few ones coming in are being hounded,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has stated that bandits become involved in criminal activities as a result of the country’s unfavorable circumstances.
The controversial Islamic cleric who has been at the forefront of lobbying for bandit negotiations, however, has stated that the bandits are tired of fighting and would welcome peace.
Gumi said this in an interview with the DAILY POST on Tuesday, adding that the bandits are willing to hand over their weapons for peace to rule if they have a solid working relationship with the government’s handlers.
“Yes, it’s really real since robbers say they were pushed into banditry by circumstances,” Gumi remarked when asked if bandits were exhausted.
“If they have a genuine partner, they are ready to stop it; they are tired and want peace.
“As regards their ongoing activities, you realise that even when soldiers are fighting and a ceasefire is declared, it takes a long time before they stop fighting.
“We are able to see about 80 per cent of the big ones and then some small splinter groups which we could not meet because due to circumstances as we cannot go into the bush again.
“But generally, they are ready for peace, in fact, we have gathered their representatives, discussed with them, and they said they are ready but need a genuine partner. Politics is the cause of this issue.”
Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri has reacted to a statement attributed to Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, William Kumuyi of Deeper Christian life ministries alongside other men of God will be prosecuted for using Twitter.
Mohammed had appeared in an interview on BBC Africa Focus on Monday stating that the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami has the right to prosecute anyone for using the social media platform.
“The attorney-general has made it clear that if anyone violates the regulation, that such person will be prosecuted. I think it is the right of the attorney-general to decide who to prosecute,” he said.
However, prior to the interview, Adeboye on Monday, had tweeted that his ministry will not be complying with the ban. He wrote; “The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories,” Mr Adeboye tweeted on Monday. “The tweets here are in accordance to Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.”
Shortly after, Mr. Kumuyi also tweeted; “In view of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, please note that the content shared on this handle is targeted at a global audience in more than five continents and over 100 Nations and we share the content from any of these locations,”.
Commenting on the situation on Tuesday morning, Omokri wrote; “Lai Mohammed says Pastor Adeboye, Pastor Kumuyi, Bishop Oyedepo and Apostle Suleman will all be prosecuted.
“I will like to see that happen. Perhaps that will be the beginning of the end of our tolerance for the incompetence of this regime”
Popular Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho on Monday visited Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state, a day after the town was attacked by Fulani herdsmen.
Igboho was in the town to access the level of damage in yesterday’s attack. During the visit, Igboho also tried to comb the forest with his boys in search of the killer herdsmen.
He was, however, prevented from entering the forest by a team of fully armed soldiers, who were trailing his convoy immediately they arrived the town.
About 8 trucks of the Nigerian Army behind Igboho’s convoy. It will be recalled that several Yoruba people were massacred by suspected herdsmen in Igangan, also the palace of the Asigangan, the paramount ruler of the area was also burnt.
The Federal Government announced on Monday that railway track vandals in the country may face the death penalty.
Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, said this in Abuja during a Town Hall Meeting on “Protecting Public Infrastructure.”
Rail track vandalism is a capital offense, according to Amaechi, and the repercussions should be regarded as such.
“I am not quantifying the material cost; what I am quantifying is the lives that will be lost. Imagine that a driver of a rail track is driving and suddenly bumps into a track that has been severed, what happens? It will derail.
“Each coach in Nigeria carries about 85 passengers, sometimes we carry 14 coaches, sometimes 20. So, imagine you are carrying a train of 14 or 20 coaches with 85 passengers in each coach, if it derails, can you quantify how many passengers that would have died in the course of one man thinking he is making money.
“So, it is not about the cost, but the lives that would have been lost because of little interest. Some people have recommended that since these people are killing people, if an accident happens people will die; so, we should go back to the National Assembly and pass a law that does not only criminalise the action, but consequences should be death,” he said.
The minister further suggested that if armed robbery, whether successful or not, attracts life imprisonment, rail track vandalism should not be any less.
He said the track vandalism was being done in collaboration with foreign partners.
“In Jos, they arrested a Chinese company that bought those tracks from them, went to court and the court found them guilty and fined them N200, 000. So, there must be consequences as N200,000 is not enough.”
Amaechi commended residents along the Lagos-Ibadan rail track as no incident of vandalism has been recorded along the route.
“Lagos and the Western District recorded one, North Western 31, Northern District 10, North Eastern 43, Eastern 36 and North Central 50 incidents of vandalism. Abuja-Kaduna has 13, Warri-Itakpe two and Lagos -Ibadan nill.”
Controversial media personality, Daddy Freeze and Peter Okoye of Psquare have reacted to the video of Ugandan pastor Jackson Senyonga celebrating the death of prophet T.B. Joshua with his members.
Naija News earlier reported that Nigerian televangelist and founder of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua (alias TB Joshua) reportedly died in Lagos on Saturday evening after concluding a programme at his church in Ikotun.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed but family sources said his remains had been deposited at the morgue and an autopsy would be performed forthwith.
In the video shared, the Ugandan pastor questioned the late prophet, saying ;“What makes you think that you can kill others because you want sacrifices”
Reacting to this, Freeze outrightly condemned the pastor’s action, saying; ”Are they rejoicing over TB Joshua’s death? Even if they were sworn enemies, is this what the Bible teaches?🙄◄ Proverbs 24 ►
New Living Translation
[17] Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
[18] For the LORD will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.”
@Peter Of Psquare reacted to the video, he wrote; ‘This life just do you! Nobody send you’
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered a lot of changes in the nation’s security operations during a meeting with the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya.
Newspot had earlier reported that Buhari met with Yahaya at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), said Buhari shared his military experiences with the new COAS and reminded him of the current “pressure on security” in the country.
On what President Buhari told the new COAS, the minister said: “He told him that there’s a lot of pressure on security and being an actor, at one point or the other, he has given us a direction in which we can learn from his experiences and apply them to our modern operations and I think we have taken the advice seriously.
“The issue of synergy among the security forces was also stressed and I’m sure there will be a lot of changes as regards to the security operations in this country.”
On what the military was doing in the Northwestern part of the country, Magashi said: “In the northwestern part of the country you know that the more concern we have is the insecurity of banditry, kidnapping, and other criminalities.
“We are taking the challenge, but you know, really, this is the constitutional responsibility of the police, we are only an aid to the police and we are giving maximum cooperation to the police in order to see an end to this banditry and insecurity in the Northwest, otherwise I think it’s quite different from the Northeast.
“In the Northeast, it’s Boko Haram issue and we are up and doing to ensure that we bring an end to this Boko Haram issue, especially with this development of ISWAP.”
The apex leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has raised the alarm that war had been declared on Yoruba people with the recent attack on Igangan area of Oyo State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
He described the attack in which no fewer than people were killed as a declaration of war against peace-loving Yoruba people.
Accusing the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of backing terrorist herdsmen that have been maiming, killing and raping people in Yoruba land, Akintoye, in a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists on Monday by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, called on Yoruba people to arm themselves with whatever they can lay their hands upon to defend their land against external aggression.
While saluting Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State who doubles as the Chairman of South-West Governors Forum for his bold stand on the Igangan massacre, Akintoye called on the governors to put aside constitutional objections to defend their people, saying “Yoruba land has been surrounded, and we must act now.”
The renowned historian said historically, the Yoruba people have never been conquered, while urging the younger generation of Yoruba people never to surrender to any form of intimidation or harassment.
He said, “The Alana and worldwide leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor ‘Banji Akintoye, on behalf of all patriotic and concerned Yoruba people, and in consultation, and collaboration with hundreds of self determination groups at home and in the Diaspora, express uttermost shock and horror at the news of the barbarous killings and destruction by Fulani and other terrorists upon our people at Igangan, Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
“While commiserating with our people in Igangan, we hereby issue a red alert to all Yoruba people at home and in the Diaspora.
“It must now be clear to all Yoruba people of all classes and economic circumstances that war has come in a big way to our homeland. This war has been coming relentlessly for five years, but some of our own people failed to understand the full intent and impact of it. Some have thought the answer is to do one constitutional or political thing to Nigeria and the war would go away. But we must now all know that such propositions concerning Nigeria are blatantly unrealistic.
“And indeed these endanger Yorubaland, the Yoruba people and the Yoruba civilization by diverting the attention of our people from the manifest reality of our time.
“We now call on all Yoruba people at home and abroad to focus on the danger of the moment in a manner that will be powerful enough to preserve our nation and civilization.
“First we call on our State Governors to push aside all the constitutional objections that have been constantly raised from certain quarters whenever our governors have taken measures to defend our people.
“We are particularly grateful to Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State and all other Governors who support him in the patriotic and manly statement that he has issued on the Igangan disaster.
“We repeat what we have said again and again that we will stand fully and powerfully behind our Governors in any measure that they may adopt to defend our people.
“We say to our state governors, your first constitutional duty is to ensure the security of life and property in our Yoruba states. In the face of that important task, constitutional and political finesse and obstructions are a danger to the lives and property of our people.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has failed woefully to protect the Yoruba people, along with other indigenous peoples of the Nigerian South and the Middle Belt against these invading, marauding forces.
“In fact, when we consider all the behaviour of the federal government in the face of this danger to the indigenous peoples and citizens of Nigeria, we can not avoid the conclusion that the federal government is a sponsor of the terror in our land.
“The federal government started by saying and doing nothing about the terrorism while apparently instructing the security agencies to do nothing to confront the terrorism.
“The federal government persistently gives to the wide world a false picture of the situation by claiming that everything is a product of climate change even as the Fulani insistently issues statements that their mission is to conquer and subdue all the indigenous peoples of Nigeria and forcefully take their land for Fulani folks from all over West Africa. And even as international terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al Qaeda and even Al-Shabab come to reinforce this Fulani terrorism all over Nigeria.
“While allowing the Fulani to move freely with and to import various categories of weapons into Nigeria, the Federal Government prohibited the possession of any kind of fire arms by any indigenous citizens of Nigeria, sending the police and army to seize such privately owned weapons including those for which these citizens had earlier been licensed for hunting and sports.
“In the light of all the foregoing,
we call on all our governors to stop letting objections by federal officials to obstruct the defence of our peoples.
“We call on all Yoruba people to rise up as one to defeat this danger. We Yoruba have a proud history that we have never been conquered.
“Let us not succumb to conquest now. Let us thank the countless young people of our land who have been standing up against the invasion of our land.
“But let us now rise to do more than merely thanking them and rise to give them all the support they need to clear our land of all terrorists of all kinds.
“Let us show to the world that though we are a civilized and life respecting people, we are nevertheless a people supremely capable of defending our people and our homeland.
“The persistent Ilana Omo Oodua calls to arms of all Yoruba people on their farms, hamlets, villages, towns, cities and other communities must now be urgently activated with communal self defence systems, around their abodes and places of work.
“You must urgently install early warning alarms; human, manual, scientific or spiritual.
“Also the traditional and hi-tech defensive mechanisms must come into place. Encourage and assist our young people to form dynamic teams that not only defend but attack the enemies wherever they have dug themselves into our forests and farmlands.
“Arm yourselves with whatever you can lay your hands upon, create or develop as individuals, and as communities to confront the enemy.
“Ensure they no longer succeed in their mission anywhere in Yorubaland. Our technology wizards are already putting together structures that will protect our land and destroy the enemy.
“To the elite of the Yoruba Nation, our businessmen and our professionals, we
now appeal that you decide and take action to assist all the efforts outlined above.
“We remember with gratitude that when the COVID-19 crisis loomed all over the world in 2020, our businessmen quickly put together a fund amounting to billions of naira to help fight the dreaded virus.
“We call on you now to do the same, to set up a large fund for the defence of our homeland and help with your expertise to set up the disbursement, management and auditing of the funds.
“The important goal must be that the funds be made to reach as quickly and adequately as possible all defensive and offensive groups and teams that demonstrate capabilities to produce quick and abiding results.
“We are Yoruba and we will prevail in this crisis. And then we will go forth and manage our own sovereign Oduduwa Nation to the admiration of all mankind- a land of security, opportunity and confident hope in prosperity for all our people and all peaceful and enterprising foreigners who come to our land.”
