Daura lawmaker to youths: Concentrate on real problems, Twitter not food

The member representing Daura Federal Constituency of Katsina State in the House of Representatives, Fatahu Muhammad, has defended Twitter suspension in Nigeria saying it was not food and youths should focus on the real problems.

Muhammad, who is from Buhari’s constituency, said this on Tuesday during the investigative hearing planned by the House joint committees on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values together with the National Security, Justice and Commerce, on Twitter suspension.

Recall that the Federal Government, on June 4, suspended Twitter from operating in the nation because of the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The action instigated criticisms from nations, groups and individuals at home and abroad, who depicted the decision as an attack on freedom of expression.

“For God sake, what is social media? Are we eating social media? Let us go back to the resources, and harvest them, and let keep this thing aside, and face the real problem in Nigeria.

“My colleagues have spoken the mind of their constituents. If I would speak the mind of my constituents, I would include the president, because out of 360 of us, I am the only one voted by the President. Look, Nigeria first, let us be honest to ourselves, let us call a spade a spade,” he said.

Muhammad further said that if Twitter was not suspended after the micro blogging platform deleted President Buhari’s tweet, the insults to the sovereignty of Nigeria would have been more.

He said, “We should please regulate the media.

“If the minister did not ban Twitter on the instruction of the President, the kind of insults to the sovereignty of Nigeria from the users of Twitter would be more than what we are facing.

“Let us tell ourselves the truth, Nigeria comes first. Sometimes, when I am reading tweets, I am disappointed with the youths (because) we are the future of Nigeria.”

President Buhari, however, has set a team to dialogue with Twitter on the suspension of the microblogging platform in the nation.