09 Jun Rise In Solidarity With Nigeria – One Billion Rising Statement
The Nigerian Government has the power to completely suppress freedom of speech by arresting and jailing journalists, activist and protesters, as well as by also controlling the internet.
As a global community, we call on the Nigerian Government led by President Mohammed Buhari to end his dictatorship and lift the ban on Twitter in Nigeria. We call on him to withdraw the threat to prosecute people using Twitter, as there is no stipulation in the Nigerian law to this effect.
The Nigerian government officially put an indefinite ban on Twitter on 5 June 2021, restricting it from operating in Nigeria. This came immediately after the social media platform deleted tweets made by the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari warning the south eastern people of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo people, of a potential repeat of the 1967 Biafran Civil War. This post violates Twitter rules and was taken down.
The ban on Twitter is affecting small businesses and encouraging hardship among citizens. Twitter is one of the major platforms Nigerians use to make their sufferings known to the world. It was used for the recent #EndSars movement which exposed genocides all over the country, as well as exposed police brutality and Government excesses.
We call for an end to the genocides that continue to take place inside Nigeria, carried out by Fulani herdsmen/terrorist groups.
We call for an end to the curtailment of freedom of expression and opinion.
We call for an end to the attacks on human rights in the country.
#Keepiton
#twitterban
#RiseInSolidarity