This @elrufai tweet clearly illustrates the dangerous perception folks like him have of "power" & "control" in a constitutional democracy governed as a republic. Though his opinion is not shared in the op-ed, the tweet shows exactly where @GovKaduna leans. Thread***@SERAP
https://twitter.com/elrufai/status/1401639518294396932
@NebojsaMalic's op-ed praises "BASED" Nigeria for teaching the US how to respond to "tech tyranny" and compares Trump's "toothless" response to his #twitterban with Nigeria's 2 day-rapid response ban of @Twitter. @elrufai seems to agree with pride! rt.com/op-ed/525727-n…
@NebojsaMalic op-ed is problematic on many levels. First, the assumption that #TwitterBanNigeria could be a teachable moment for the #USA or is indicative of the responsiveness of the @MBuhari govt to ANY aspect of governance is at best ignorant! vanguardngr.com/2021/03/insecu…
Then, hinging the thesis of the oped on the question: "who is in charge; a corporation or a government?", invites a discussion on governance broadly and the rules by which constitutional democracies operate. A discussion from which @ElRufia and @NebojsaMalic could learn.
Constitutional democracies operate by the rule of law & popular participation through reps(among other principles) The people make laws & the law empowers the govt. The system doesn't envisage rulership by a venerated individual whose ego all must tend. It's a demo(people)cracy!
The idea that @Twitter's enforcement of its policy (established under the law) should activate all levers of govt for an all out offensive couldn't be more incongruous. In fact, the "toothless" US response accords with the tenets of democracy & deserves emulation by #Nigeria. 
@NebojsaMalic's readers including @elrufai should know that the Trump admin did not "spare" @Twitter for want of animus but because Sec 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects social media platforms. Trump exhausted all available legal options! vox.com/recode/2020/5/…
@Twitter's deletion of one @MBuhari tweet is incomparable to Trump's indefinite ban. This is why @NebojsaMalic justification of @MBuhari's disproportionate response is tenuous at best, and the reference to @Twitter's support for "secessionists", cheap propaganda!
The critical issue is whether the Nigerian government acted within the law when they banned twitter and threatened to prosecute twitter users for a non existent crime. @NigeriaGov clearly failed in its obligation under human rights law to protect free expression!
Nigeria is in the throes of systemic dysfunction - courts are shuts, schools are closed for fear of kidnappers even in Abuja, hundreds are killed, raped and dismembered by "bandits" & "unknown gun men" with no response from @NigeriaGov. foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/27/nig…
The action of the @NigeriaGov would be indefensible regardless of the context however Nigeria's present state makes the fixation on @Twitter and punishing Nigerians irresponsible! Especially as government actors including @elrufai continue to use @Twitter.
@NigeriaGov's action is unconscionable and is at variance with its constitutional obligation towards protecting #FreedomOfExpression! I urge Nigeria to rescind the illegal directive. Nigeria must #KeepitOn @threadreaderapp
@threadreaderapp Please unroll
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