TWITTER BAN: Commonwealth not hammering Buhari, contrary to SERAP expectation

The Commonwealth has responded to the petition it got from Nigeria-based rights group SERAP against the suspension of social media platform Twitter in Nigeria.

The response seems either her nor there.

In a statement by Sec.-Gen. Patricia Scotland, the organization said it is following the development in Nigeria.

According the international body whose members include Nigeria, all member countries have obligations to uphold freedom of expression as one of the core values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter.

One of these principles is commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights covenants and international instruments.

“And Scotland is engaging relevant stakeholders,” the response to SERAP’s June 5 petition, signed by Roger Koranteng, stated.

About two months ago, the federal government ordered the suspension of Twitter it suspected of carrying out a secret agenda in Nigeria, and of running the platform with double standards.

Jack Dorsey, after the platform initially insisted President Muhammadu Buahri’s tweets threatening to deal with promoters of violence didn’t violate its rule, came back and deleted the tweets.

The government decision angered rights groups in Nigeria, triggering an avalanche of petitions and lawsuits that might drag out in court while the platform remains shuttered in Nigeria.

The federal government said Twitter has been pushing for amicable resolution.