El-Rufai Under Attack For Using Twitter Despite Ban

...Says 'Conflating Twitter With Freedom of Speech Is Exaggeration'

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-rufai is under attack for using Twitter despite the ban by the Buhari-led government.

AllNews Nigeria learned that El-rufai had on Wednesday night responded to a tweet by a user commending him for his good works while he was the FCT minister.

This did not go down well with some Nigerians who queried him for using Twitter despite the ban.

In his defence, El-Rufai said he was not in the country at present. He stated this in reply to a comment “VPN? YES?”.

“VPN? Nope……outside Nigeria for a couple of days, so can tweet for the time being,” el-Rufai said.

El-Rufai Tweets despite FG ban

An End SARS protest promoter, Rinu Oduala taking a swipe at him wrote, "The only place you get freedom of speech is outside Nigeria."

El-rufai disagreed with Rinu, clarifying that the ban of Twitter does not equate lack of freedom of speech,  "Wrong @SavvyRinu! Conflating Twitter with “freedom of speech” is a significant exaggeration. Freedoms of many descriptions existed before and without Twitter, and will remain long after!! Enjoy your day."

El-Rufai Vs Rinu Tweet

Other Twitters users said;

Human Rights activist, @AishaYesufu “You really should be absolutely and disgustingly ashamed of yourself @elrufai,” she wrote. “You are going outside to enjoy the very basic thing a government you are part of have denied the people. While enjoying Twitter without VPN, you also enjoy the security you have denied your people.”

@Bnk2nde “ Imagine getting out Nigeria and one of the few things you want to do is to tweet… LOL Nigeria politicians, whatever that makes you sleep better.”

@MrFlairr “ Hello @elrufai , the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria banned Twitter so whether you are outside Nigeria or not, you are supposed to honor the ban. There is no justification for what you have done Sir, apologize to the president and delete ur account.”

@Chydec1 “ When you have to leave Nigeria to enjoy freedom of expression, really speaks a lot about the type of government in Nigeria presently. At least people like you who have the means to travel outside get to enjoy good Governance but fail to replicate what you enjoy here.”

@DukeIkedi “ So Twitter dey hungry you like this.”

@MyDeji247 “Eyaa and I’m now feeling for you ou Sir. So once you’re back in the country, you’d be back in bondage? Tell Bubu to do better.”

@Everroun “ My dear Governor, I expected you to have entirely deleted your account in demonstration of your absolute solidarity with Mr. President. Keeping the account & tweeting when you’re outside Nigeria goes to give the impression that you don’t share in Mr President’s Twitter ban.”

@UchePOkoye “ You had to leave Nigeria to be able to tweet.So you have been wanting to tweet but couldn’t and you never said anything.So the only place we can be to express ourselves on this app is outside Nigeria.”

@MahmoodMuhdNura “ Atleast you should have follow the presidential directives everywhere you’re if u’re a loyal citizen.”