President Bola Tinubu | File Image
‘The same social media he [Tinubu] used to bully GEJ, the same social media they all used during elections…. Thank God VPN and Elon Musk cannot be stopped by any government’
By Valentine Amanze
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has described social media as a societal menace that must be regulated.
The president made the advocacy on the heels of high level criticism on his administration’s poor performance since May 29, 2023.
The president, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in Lagos, also called for accurate information in policy formulation and national development.
Also read: Southern Nigerian group wants Tinubu to end hardship in Nigeria
He accused the social media of spreading fake and wrong information, which he said, had almost torn the country apart.
Besides, Tinubu urged government at all levels to embrace data in policy formulation for the growth of the country, stating that no developing country can succeed without adequate and well-informed data.
He said that his administration had an obligation to engage in evidence-based discussion and data-reliant decision-making, hence the need for accurate data that will be used for better policy formulation and execution.
But Nigerians have condemned his call for the regulation of the social media.
Many Nigerians, who reacted in X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, wondered why President Tinubu, who social media aided to became president, could turn against it.
They said that the priority of Nigerians now is not social media, but food and security.
Omo Kogi (Yagba) @Oladapomikky1 listed to Tinubu what should regulated to include: Fuel price, dollar rate, 300% price increment in foodstuff, insecurity,
abject poverty, unemployment, and chronic corruption within Tinubu’s administration.
Omo Kogi also urged Tinubu not to provoke him.
“Abeg…. Don’t provoke me this morning….”
@Selfmadeceleb3, in his contribution, reminded Tinubu how he rose through the social media.
His words: “The same social media he [Tinubu] used to bully GEJ, the same social media they all used during elections…. Thank God VPN and Elon Musk cannot be stopped by any government.”
valoa2000@yahoo.com
