June 6, 2021

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom describes the Federal Government’s ban on Twitter operations in the country as an ill-advised diversion from the core issues of insecurity and injustice plaguing the nation.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said the Twitter ban offers no solution to any of the myriad of problems facing the country and stresses that the move is only capable of heightening tensions and fueling suspicions among Nigerians over the real motives of the Federal Government.

He noted that the act of suspending Twitter amounts to suppressing freedom of expression, gagging social media, and undermining fundamental human rights of Nigerians, a development he says contravenes Chapter four of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Governor Ortom emphasized the need for the Federal Government to listen to the views and yearnings of the people to enable it to address the challenges confronting the nation.

He called for the reversal of the ban to reassure the international community that Nigeria has not become a hostile country to investors.

The governor appealed to those saddled with the responsibility of advising the Presidency to always put national interest above personal, regional, ethnic, religious, and political affiliations.