Online Publishers of Nigeria (OPAN) urges FG to lift suspension on Twitter operations

  
“The reasons adduced for the suspension or ban of Twitter have remained unconvincing because the federal government failed to exhaust other channels of communication with the social media giant, said OPAN

Another strong voice has come from a key stakeholder in the online Communication revolution — the Online Publishers of Nigeria (OPAN), urging the Federal Government to immediately reverse the suspension on Twitter operations in the country.

OPAN also appealed for a halt to infringement on the rights of citizens to freely express themselves.

Persecondnews recalls that the Nigerian Bar Association and other well-meaning Nigerians as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria have flayed the suspension slammed on Twitter.

A statement by Nigeria’s premier association of new media and online new publishers said:”The reasons adduced for the suspension or ban of Twitter have remained unconvincing because the federal government failed to exhaust other channels of communication with the social media giant.”  “The action of the Federal Government amounts to killing an ant with a sledge hammer, and has given Nigeria a very bad image in the eyes of the international community,” OPAN said in a statement issued on Monday by Austyn Ogannah, President and Daniel Elombah, General Secretary, and given to Persecondnews. OPAN further decried the clandestine effort to gag social media voices in Nigeria and called on the Federal Government to “exercise restraints in dealing with issues that affect the youths, freedom of expression, media freedom, and those actions that could directly or indirectly widen the unemployment gap in the country.”