Former Presidential Aide Says Buhari Lifted Twitter Ban Because Elections Are Near

By Emmanuel Nduka

Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, has stated that the suspension of the ban on Twitter by the Nigerian Government is because the 2023 general elections are near.

The Nigerian Government had late on Wednesday January 12, announced the suspension of the ban on the microblogging site which had been enforced for the past seven months.

Omokri, who was a spokesman for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, conveyed his reaction in a series of tweets, claiming that Nigeria lost $750 million because of the Twitter ban.

“$750 million. In case you are wondering, that is exactly what Nigeria lost in 222 days of banning Twitter.

“So, if anybody is telling you that Nigeria won with the #TwitterBan, ask them to tell you what exactly Nigeria won. Nigeria lost big time!

“The claim that Twitter agreed to allow Buhari’s junta regulate Twitter users in Nigeria is as fakes as Buhari’s integrity.

“The expectation that Twitter would move from Ghana to Nigeria will never happen. Twitter did not beg. Buhari bulged because elections are here!” he tweeted.

In lifting the suspension, the Federal Government said it asked Twitter to meet up with some conditions before the removal of the ban.

The Government, however said the social media company has agreed to the conditions, with the execution of the agreement starting this week.