Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday reacted to the Federal Government’s ban on Twitter lamenting that it will further worsen and increase the unemployment rate in the country.
The governors disclosed this in a communique jointly issued at end of the meeting held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
“The meeting examined the suspension of Twitter from operating in Nigeria and condemned the personalised reasons given for the action. The mere ego of Mr. President is not enough for such a drastic action that deprives millions of Nigerians of such an affordable means of expression and communication. We hope that this is not a harbinger or early warning signs of descent into dictatorship.
“This will further worsen Nigeria’s 33% unemployment rate which is the highest in the world, improve Nigeria’s ranking as the country with the second-highest poverty rate in the entire world, all of which happened under APC’s unfortunate stewardship.”
The governors consequently requested Mr President to review the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria in the national interest.
Speaking concerning social media regulation, the governors said it can only be done within the existing laws on the subject and should not be used as an attempt to punish or gag Nigerians from enjoying constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“Nigerian youths do not have adequate access to employment and a lot of Nigerians rely on Twitter for their livelihood, businesses, and self-employment,” the PDP governors added.
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