Twitter Ban: Time for Nigerian youths to create substitute – Lawmaker
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Federal House of Representatives Member representing Kaltungo/Shongom, Hon. Karu Elisha, says the Twitter suspension would provide ample opportunity for Nigerian youths to develop platforms suitable for the culture and existence of the people.
Elisha made this disclosure on Friday, in an interview with journalists, shortly after a peace parley in Shongom Local Government, following the burning of 50 houses and killings due to land dispute.
He said as a foreign based platform Twitter has recognised standards which may not be favourable to the realities on ground.
Elisha said, “It has it pros and it has it cons. On one side, I think is an opportunity for the digital aged young people to develop a Nigerian based form of social media engagement such that we will be able to work within our own culture.
“This will be able to have a level of respect in the activities, we actually get to do. Twitter is foreign and Twitter has its on principles and guiding principles that it goes with so it may not favour us in all circumstances but I think is a call and a challenge for the current youths today.
He added, “We want a situation that in the next three, two years is a Nigerian strong base social media outlet that is made in Nigeria.”
While commenting on the current crisis which caused the death of eight (8) residents and burning of 50 houses, Elisha described it as unfortunate, calling on all parties to sheathe swords.
“Am most grateful and I appreciate the circumstances that we find our selves in. The incident that transpired on the 29th of May 2021, was indeed an unfortunate situation but we count it as a privilege that it is an opportunity for us to strengthen our communities. Communities hardly stay together without having spites and conflict among them.
“But when it resolves to violent conflict then it calls for an inward review and then a look into cultural situation within them. Wherever you find breakout law and order certain values must have been violated before an eruption of the physical violence.
“So it is a call to duty for the local government chairman, it is a call to duty for the local government councillors, most especially it is a call to duty for our traditional leaders because they are the first respondents to such communal issues and if they are to manage such circumstances it will not escalate to the extent of such a huge physical violence.
“So it is happening at a point in time where our traditional leaders needs to be strategically positioned in the governance at the grassroots because they are the closest to the grassroots.
For me, I think while it’s unfortunate, it is also an opportunity to go back to history and begin reason in terms of what dictates kept these communities in peace and harmony,” Elisha added.
On efforts geared towards mitigating further violence, Elisha revealed that he had contacted development partners towards restoring peace.
He said, “I have rallied down quite a number of development partners who are already working in the community and they have quickly requested a level of support to get into an intervention program that strengthens peace building within the society and bringing these traditional leaders together and the councillors is the number one step in bringing about peace. Because where you have them in charge of the respective community is easier to bring that level of cohesion among the people and that level of coexistence naturally.
“I call on our constituents to exercise a level of patience with each other and a level of tolerance. Even though I would love to call that let us invite the culture of love in dealing with one another. The absence of love is where you have people being urged to be tolerant but where there is love there is no need to call the people to be tolerant. I call for love and peaceful co-existence.”
