After the Federal Government announced on June 4 that it was suspending the operations of Twitter in the country, Nigerians found a way to continue to access the micro-blogging site. They took to the use of the Virtual Private Network which gives online privacy and anonymity.
But the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami vowed to prosecute those who still used Twitter despite ban by the government.
Lawyers have argued that there is no law in existence under which the so-called ban violators could be prosecuted but the Federal Government is still adamant it will go ahead with the prosecution.
However, many Nigerians still continue to use Twitter via VPN and have dared the FG to prosecute them. Many prominent Nigerians including state governors, clerics, politicians continue to use Twitter.
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Top on the list of the “violators” is Malami who accessed his Twitter account after his office had announced the plan to prosecute those who continued to use the platform. He had announced on his Facebook page that he deactivated his Twitter account. But Nigerians are mocking him as they query how he was able to access his account to deactivate since Twitter operations had already been banned.
Among prominent Nigerians who have defied the directive to stop using Twitter is the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who said in a tweet: “The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories. The tweets here are in accordance to Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.”
Similarly, the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi said he would continue to tweet. He said in a tweet: “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.”
Other prominent Nigerians who have used Twitter in spite of the ban are:
Senior Pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, Pastor Sam Adeyemi
The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleiman
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El-Rufai
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili;
Former Senator, Senator Dino Melaye,
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
