Trump’s Ban Validates Our Move To Regulate Social media – FG

The federal government has said the permanent suspension of United States president, Donald Trump’s, twitter and Facebook account has further reinforced the need to censor activities of Nigerians on social media.

Ekohotblog reports that there’s been sustained efforts by the federal government to regulate social media in the country citing purported misuse on the pervasive hate speech, a move that’s been greeted with outrage and has been rebuffed by the citizenry.

In an interview with Peoples Gazette on Saturday, Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, said the deactivation Trump’s social media accounts should spur renewal of efforts by  the Nigerian government to muscle free speech in the country.

Keyamo said just as the U.S. leader was punished for fomenting trouble by goading his supporters to desecrate the country’s sacred congress through ‘hate speech’ , purveyors of falsehoods and spurious claims should be prepared for the consequences in Nigeria.

“There is always a thin line between free speech and irresponsible and dangerous hate speech, Donald Trump was restricted because he lied and fermented hate speech,” Keyamo averred

The minister warned those fabricating lies in Nigeria to desist, noting that they should be ready to defend themselves and also face the consequences of their actions if they do not persist from peddling unfounded claims.

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Despite deluge of irrefutable evidence, Buhari’s administration has vehemently denied that the military opened fire on unarmed civilians demanding police reform and protesting against police brutality at the Lekki toll plaza late October last year.

Keyamo argued that the very notion that spurred the #EndSARS demonstration was premised on lies.

“What happened that triggered #EndSARS and cost the nation billions in destruction and human lives was based on a pure lie,” Keyamo said

“In America, those who attacked the Capitol and the person who incited them are being punished. But here in Nigeria, we are calling for those who incited #EndSARS protesters into killing and maiming so many people to be freed. It won’t happen,”