Twitter Restoration: Lawyer who sued FG calls for sanctioning of APC during 2023 polls

With Twitter restoration, Human Rights Lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong has called on Nigerians to sanction the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) during next year’s general election.

Mr Effiong who had legally challenge the ban on the micro-blogging site made the call on Thursday in a statement while reacting to the lifting of the over seven months ban on the social networking site.

Judgment in the suit the lawyer instituted against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over the ban has been fixed for March 18, 2022.

Reacting to the conditional lifting of the suspension which includes censoring of online ‘prohibited’ contents, Mr Effiong advised Nigerians not to rejoice over the situation.

“The lifting of the ban on Twitter does not call for celebration,” the lawyer, who regretted supporting and voting for the incumbent regime, said. “It calls for retribution by the sane, conscious and conscientious electorates during the next elections.

“As Nigerians, we must imbibe the culture of punishing parties and office holders who inflict pains on us.

“A regime/party that stifles free speech, promotes draconian policies and suffocates citizens should be dealt with at the polls by citizens. That is how we are going to build an accountable and a viable democratic country with the rule of law. Buhari’s regime shouldn’t be praised.

“The ban on Twitter last year was actuated by vengeance and done in bad faith. The subsequent attempts to twist the narrative and make the ban about “compliance with regulatory requirements” was an afterthought. We all know this happened because Buhari’s vicious tweet was deleted.

“The fact that other social media platforms were not targeted in the same manner evinces the self-serving intent of the regime and their defenders. No matter how long it takes, one day, the destroyers of Nigeria shall be brought to justice for their atrocities.

“The battle to rescue Nigeria and salvage the future of unborn generations must continue.”