₦airaland Forum

Hotel magnate, Obi Iyorchia, has offered university scholarship and job to Ekuma Jeremiah, a Lagos hawker who had passion on prisoners recently.

Mr Jeremiah was recently seen in a viral video clip sharing money to prisoners conveyed in a correctional vehicle while carrying on his head, a crate of bottled water, which he hawks.

In another clip, when asked the reason behind the care, he explained that he decided to have pity on them because they don’t have the liberty he has. His deed led Nigerians to contribute over N300,000 to him.

In an Instagram live with media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, Mr Iyorchia whose nickname is Obi Cubana promised to sponsor the university education of the hawker who will thereafter be employed in one of his establishments.

Mr Cubana said should Jeremiah reject the offers, he will be listened to and be supported in whatever he decides to do.

“I am offering him a lifetime opportunity, he has to go to school I think that is his ambition,” the socialite said. “I will see him through the university and if he wants to do Masters abroad , I will make sure he is comfortable while going to school because like I said earlier, that is the best we can do for him.

“He will do University, anything he wants and then by God’s grace I know I will still be standing by the time he is done with school, he has a place in any of my organisations at the top level and if by God’s grace he finds a higher calling, you see there is nothing tied to this, I do not expect anything in return.

“I am not giving any conditions for this but if he chooses not to go back to school we can now hear what he wants to do and then we see him through.

“The most important thing is to know that he has in me a mentor, he has in me a life guide in me. I will make it easy for him through God so I believe that God will give me health and strength.

“The guy will go to any University of his choice in good condition not just to pay school fees. He has a heart of gold. This is the kind of people we need.

“I pray that people will do eye service to get my attention, let them do this kind of thing, in doing that you don’t know when you get used to it the world becomes a better place,” he added.

Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Nigerians will regret if they elect former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, as president in 2023.

Mr George, a former military governor of Osun State, stated this in an interview with Vanguard Newspapers while reacting to the declaration of interest of Mr Tinubu into the presidential race.

He said he won’t support for the former governor because he is unfit for the position, warning of regrets should Nigerians elect the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as president.

“I won’t support him (Tinubu),” the PDP chief said. “I am talking as a senior citizen in this country. I have nothing personal, this man does not have what it takes to manage this country. If he does Nigerians will regret it.

“If Nigerians are dumb enough not to see that (incompetence) and they choose that he is the one they want to put forward as president, I wish them the best of luck,” he added.

When asked if he will go on exile should the former governor be elected president, he answered in the affirmative, “because he (Tinubu) will take the country to the gutters.”

The APC chieftain while declaring for the top job earlier in the week said it was his life-long ambition to lead the country he once said he doesn’t believe in.

After his declaration, Nigerians on social media began raising controversial questions about his lineage, origin, source of wealth, age, among others.

Orji Uzor Kalu, Senate Chief Whip has charged state governors to stand up and fight insecurity in their domains and not wait for President Muhammadu Buhari whom he said has done very well.

Mr Kalu who gave the charge on Thursday on Arise TV exonerated President Muhammadu Buhari, who is in charge of all the security apparatus in the country, of blames over rising insecurity.

He praised the president, saying he has done well despite rising reports of killings and kidnappings across the country.

“The issue is not Buhari. The issue is that if every governor is putting their feet down in their state and say you cannot do this thing here, we would not be where we are,” the former Abia governor explained, forgetting state governors in the North who granted bandits amnesty and regretted later after realizing the initiative did not yield the expected fruits.

The presidential hopeful who currently represent Abia North at the Senate also narrated how he tackle insecurity in his state when in held sway as governor from 1999 to 2007.

“If you (governors) don’t want them (criminals), they won’t be there,” he said. “Governors need to stand up and fight the war, I am pleading with them, more of those fights lie with the governors, not with Buhari.

“Most of the state governors are not doing well. Buhari’s administration has done very well even in fighting banditry, but we don’t have enough resources to fight these people.

“I will rate Buhari’s administration very highly. If Buhari did not come in maybe we would not have Nigeria by now, the way things were going,” he added.

The former governor might be trying to please the president whom he is hopeful of succeeding in office. TODAY POLITICS recalled that the Buhari regime frowned at state governors who in the past tried to compliment the efforts of security agencies.

When state governors from the South-West geo-political zone floated Amotekun, a regional paramilitary aimed at combating violent herdsmen, the Buhari administration frowned at it and insisted the outfit must be annexed to the police under its supervision.

Also, the regime opposed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that the governors will abuse and treat it same way local government areas are treated nationwide.

THE Federal Government announced on Thursday that it had lifted the ban on Twitter, but an investigation has shown that the social media app has not met some of the conditions listed by the Federal Government.

A presidential committee comprising all relevant government agencies that engaged and worked directly with Twitter had given some conditions to the social media platform before the ban could be lifted.

The condition listed by the Federal Government committee that interacted with Twitter included that the platform would open an office in Nigeria, have a country representative, register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and get National Broadcasting Commission’s licence.

Others included: fair tax payment and dealing with sensitive content to national security and cohesion.

Twitter would also train Nigerian IT personnel and strategic intelligence officers to report abuse and infractions noticed by the government.

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All of these conditions, Chairman of the Technical Committee for Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi Abdullahi, said Twitter had agreed to.

He also said Twitter had agreed to set ‘a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022.’

In addition to setting up a local office or a legal entity in the country, he said Twitter had agreed to appoint a ‘designated country representative’ to hold talks with the Nigerian government when required.

“Twitter has agreed to comply with applicable tax obligations on its operations under Nigerian law. Twitter has agreed to enrol Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, a search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website shows that Twitter is not yet registered in Nigeria.

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This means the social media app may not have met all the conditions listed by the Nigerian government before the ban was suspended.

THE Federal Government lifted the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abdullahi made it known in a statement on Wednesday.

VOICEofORIENTAL:
So,if you claim the s.west betrayed the south in 2015, what then, are you actually doing now?..you still want to SALE the entire south because of s.west?we are still grappling with the misrule of a northerner, you still want to drag us into another 8yrs of a northerner?..HABA MY BROTHER?is it a wise decision to sell your children because your wife abandoned you for another man? haven't you made mistakes before, that you later regretted?.. are you perfect in all your decisions?NO WISE IGBO PERSON WOULD EVER THINK OF ANOTHER NORTHERNER AFTER Buhari...GOD FORBID.

Without the help of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on Thursday, Nigerians were able to access Twitter, a micro-blogging platform, banned in the country early June last year, TODAY POLITICS observed.

The restored access came after the social media networking giant accepted the conditions handed to it by the Nigerian government which announced the lifting of the ban Wednesday evening.

One of the conditions reached by the parties is the empowerment of government officials to censor online ‘prohibited’ contents.

The regime had instructed telecom operators in the country to barred access to the social network but many Nigerians opted for the VPN to circumvent the ban despite being threatened with prosecution.

Twitter became inaccessible after the federal government alleged that subversive elements were using the platform to undermine the country’s sovereignty, a claim many Nigerians disputed, saying the deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari tweet deemed genocidal necessitated it.

Critics argue that the government was reacting to the bruise ego of the president which Twitter said violated its community standard. The international community also joined in condemning the ban, advising the government to backtrack, an advise the regime paid deaf ears to.

The ban lasted for 222 days, slightly some days above seven months but Nigerians are attributing the lifting to the closeness of the general election where politicians and political parties reach out to the people using the social media.

Presidential spokesmen and other government officials who tweeted early Thursday morning were seen by TODAY POLITICS describing the development as a victorious feat by the regime.

The federal government says Twitter, popular micro-blogging platform, has given it access to censor online contents it said will be prohibited.

This is contained in a statement by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement, Wednesday evening.

Listing out the gains the 222 days ban garnered, Mr Abdullahi said Twitter has agreed to register as an entity and pay taxes in the country while complying with Nigerian laws.

He also said the social networking giant has agreed to create two channels – Partner Support Portal (PSP) and Law Enforcement Portal (LEP) – through which its staff and government officials will censor online contents it described as ‘prohibited’ without expressly stating types of contents that falls into such category.

“Twitter has agreed to enrol Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals,” part of the statement reads. “The Partner Support Portal provides a direct channel for government officials and Twitter staff to manage prohibited content that violates Twitter community rules.

“At the same time, the Law Enforcement Portal provides a channel for the law enforcement agencies to submit a report with a legal justification where it suspects that content violates Nigerian Laws. Taken together, these represent a comprehensive compliance apparatus.”

Twitter is yet to respond to an email from TODAY POLITICS requesting comments on the development Thursday morning.

BACKSTORY

On June 4, the Buhari administration through its Information Minister Lai Mohammed, announced the ban on Twitter, claiming it did so to stop subversive elements from using the networking site to undermine the cooperate existence of the nation.

The ban came after the micro-blogging platform deleted a tweet of President Muhammadu Buhari deemed genocidal against the people of the Eastern region, an action pro-government officials regarded as bruising the president’s ego.

The regime thereafter set up a delegation to engage Twitter with a view of lifting the ban which was enforced midnight of June 5, 2021.

While government officials and the mainstream media were barred from using the platform, most Nigerians resorted to the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) to circumvent the ban and have continued to use it despite being warned of consequences by Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

Mr Malami, according to screenshots he shared through his verified Facebook page, also used VPN to bypass the ban and deactivate his account on Twitter, an action most Nigerians described as hypocritical.

Like the AGF, Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, had also deactivated her account on Twitter but hers was done before the ban was enforced.

Ttalk:
Haters would develop bp with this news

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022. The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim. In the Memo, the Minister updates and requests the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.

2. You may recall that on 5th June 2021, the FGN suspended the operation of Twitter through an announcement made by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alh Lai Mohammed. Thereafter, the President constituted a seven-man Presidential Committee to engage Twitter Inc. Subsequently, in its wisdom, the Presidential Committee set a 20-member Technical Committee comprising all relevant government agencies. The Technical Committee engaged and worked directly with the Twitter team.

3. The immediate and remote cause of the suspension was the unceasing use of the platform by some unscrupulous elements for subversive purposes and criminal activities, propagating fake news, and polarising Nigerians along tribal and religious lines, among others. These issues bordering on National Security, Cohesion and the effects of the abuse of the Twitter platform forced the FGN to suspend the operation of Twitter to address the direct and collateral issues around its operations in Nigeria.

4. The new global reality is that digital platforms and their operators wield enormous influence over the fabric of our society, social interaction and economic choices. These platforms can be used as either a tool or a weapon. Every nation is grappling with how to balance its usage efficiently. Without balancing, every citizen’s security, privacy, social well-being, and development are at stake. Therefore, our action is a deliberate attempt to recalibrate our relationship with Twitter to achieve the maximum mutual benefits for our nation without jeopardising the justified interests of the Company. Our engagement has been very respectful, cordial, and successful.

5. The process of resolving this impasse between the FGN and Twitter Inc. has helped lay a foundation for a mutually beneficial future with endless possibilities. Twitter is a platform of choice for many Nigerians ranging from young innovators to public sector officials who find it helpful to engage their audience. Therefore, our engagement will help Twitter improve and develop more business models to cover a broader area in Nigeria. Furthermore, the FGN looks forward to providing a conducive environment for Twitter and other global tech companies to achieve their potential and be sustainably profitable in Nigeria.

6. While appreciating all Nigerians, especially the vibrant Nigerian youths who have borne with the long wait to resolve this impasse, the FGN is happy to say that the gains made from this shared national sacrifice are immeasurable. Some of the gains include:

a) Ongoing economic and training opportunities as the Company continues to consider expanding its presence in Nigeria;

b) Getting a better understanding of how to use the Twitter platform effectively to improve businesses;

c) Revenue generation from the operation of Twitter in Nigeria;

d) Smooth and coordinated relationship between Nigerian Government and Twitter leading to mutual trust;

d) Smooth and coordinated relationship between Nigerian Government and Twitter leading to mutual trust;

e) Reduction of cybercriminal activities such as terrorism, cyberstalking, hate speech, etc.; and

f) Working with Twitter and other global companies to build an acceptable code of conduct following the global best practice.

7. The FGN has asked Twitter to fulfil some conditions before restoring its services. These conditions addressed legal registration of operations, taxation, and managing prohibited publication in line with Nigerian laws. Twitter has agreed to meet all the conditions set by the FGN. Consequently, the FGN and Twitter have decided on an execution timeline, which has started this week. Our engagement with Twitter opens a new chapter in global digital diplomacy and sets a new operational template for Twitter to come back stronger for the benefit of Nigerians.

The following are the resolutions agreed with Twitter. Inc.:

i. Twitter has committed to establishing a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022. The legal entity will register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The establishment of the entity is Twitter’s first step in demonstrating its long-term commitment to Nigeria.

ii. Twitter has agreed to appoint a designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities. The Global Public Policy team is also directly available through a dedicated communication channel.

iii. Twitter has agreed to comply with applicable tax obligations on its operations under Nigerian law.

iv. Twitter has agreed to enrol Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals. The Partner Support Portal provides a direct channel for government officials and Twitter staff to manage prohibited content that violates Twitter community rules. At the same time, the Law Enforcement Portal provides a channel for the law enforcement agencies to submit a report with a legal justification where it suspects that content violates Nigerian Laws. Taken together, these represent a comprehensive compliance apparatus.

v. Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgement of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history on which such legislation has been built and work with the FGN and the broader industry to develop a Code of Conduct in line with global best practices, applicable in almost all developed countries.

8. Therefore, the FGN lifts the suspension of the Twitter operations in Nigeria from midnight of 13th January 2022. We encourage all users of the Twitter platform to maintain ethical behaviour and refrain from promoting divisive, dangerous, and distasteful information on the platform. As patriotic citizens, we need to be mindful that anything illegal offline is also illegal online and that committing a crime using a Nigerian Internet Protocol (IP) is synonymous with committing a crime within our jurisdiction.

9. Considering Twitter’s influence on our democracy, our economy, and the very fabric of our corporate existence as a Nation, our priority is to adapt, not ban, Twitter. The FGN is committed to working with Twitter to do anything possible to help Nigerians align and navigate Twitter algorithmic design to realise its potentials while avoiding its perils.

10. In his approval, the President appreciates the Presidential Committee led by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alh Lai Mohammed, for the supervisory role and guidance given to the Technical Committee during the engagement. Similarly, the Presidential Committee commends the Technical Committee for a professional, robust and productive engagement with Twitter Inc. It also appreciates Government Regulatory Agencies and Internet Service Providers who implemented the FGN’s directives during the suspension.

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE
Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the ban on Twitter be lifted after about 222 days.

Mr Buhari had ordered the ban June last year days after his tweet deemed genocidal against the people of the South-East geo-political zone was deleted.

Mr Buhari gave the order after reviewing a memo to that effect from the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

The was made known in a statement released by the Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022,” Mr Abdullahi said.

“The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim.

“In the Memo, the Minister updated and requested the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.”

Echoban:
Can u do this fast

Why are u bothered abt SW support? Wen did they request for ur Support Why are u making it look like they need to beg u for support

christistruth01:
What if Tinubu puts his wife forward as Presidential Candidate

She is from SS

juman:
OP is a clown.
He know nothing about politics.

HedwigesMaduro:
I wonder when you guys are going to get it into your thick, flat skulls that you're not relevant in this country. Dot and all that.

RemoveKebab:
so if north and SW had supported cpc massively in 2011 out of emotions. You wouldn't be saying this.

If Jonathan was reelected. It will be much worse than we think.
The recession will still happen and it will be much worse(remember oil was worth more then thats why we didn't feel it)
Insecurity will still be there(bomb blasts are far worst than herdsmen and and famers clash that has been happening since 80s)
Plus boko haram seizing large territories.
Maiduguri would have fallen.

This govt has really blundered in some aspects(banditry and nepotism) but in terms of infrastructure. They are doing much with little. Which pdp fails at in their entire 16yrs.

FIFApresident1:
I have been avoiding comments on South East since the beginning of this thread, why? I don't care about whatever is going on down there, what ever is going to come out there won't make any difference anyways.... I don't just care.

Was the incumbent governor of Bayelsa in 2019 when Buhari pulled 35% not Pdp?

Was the incumbent governor when Lyon won with 70% not Pdp?

With the recent bromance between Buhari and GEJ Bayelsa is going to formally swing to Apc by 2023, get that to your skull, you damned man.

And I won't reply your next mentions because I think you're too sl0w, politics is not for you, I advice you get back to farming.

Thank you.

LILTJAY:
KoshCAD already killed and buried all the igbos on this thread.. let me just put flowers on their graves..
Nothing to add again

VOICEofORIENTAL:
You are 100yrs behind time.are you sure you're Igbo?DID OBASANJO KILL THE ECONOMY OF THE SOUTH?no wise Igbo person would write this nonsense.YOU ARE NOT AN IGBO PERSON.the s/east should try its best to reach other regions...IT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF WICKEDNESS FOR ANY IGBO PERSON TO BE TALKING OF ANOTHER NORTHERNER AFTER 8YRS OF BUHARI.

FIFApresident1:
Mumu man, if his deputy hadn't made the mistake of not making an avidavit to his change of name then Lyon would have been in Bayelsa government house by now.

However, whether Lyon was the sitting governor of Bayelsa state or not isn't my point.

My points are;

Jonathan Supported Apc in the election.
The people of Bayelsa massive supported Lyon.
Buhari got more than 35% of votes in 2019 in Bayelsa state.
Bayelsa is swinging to Apc.
Apc can still do better in Bayelsa and SS at large.

Get some sense and stop being silly,

RemoveKebab:
so it wasn't emotional when we massively supported pdp in 2010. And the country wasn't getting better than its predecessor which most Nigerians out of desperation unluckily voted for apc in 2015.

Don't mention the last recent election because it wasn't the same amount of support they got in 2015 especially in SW.

Ttalk:
Stop being emotional and showcase candidate from SE. Many are ready to vote competent person regardless where he comes from in 2023. But your threat against the entire region of the SW would make anyone you presented loose appeal.

Just the way you abuse the north with many printable words that discourage them from voting anyone from your region is the way you have started demeaning SW.

You should know that SW remain the biggest ally to SE, most of your people prefer living and doing businesses in SW than any other parts of Nigeria. Your type of politics is creating awareness among SW people that could sour that relationship.

Who lose if Yoruba people reciprocate this type of hatred to your people that have made SW their home?

FIFApresident1:
David Lyon won the popular votes with a wide margin that's my point and stop behaving like a brainless kindergarten pupil.

Drogunov:
You want SW to support your region by abusing and insulting them, right? If you don't know how to build political bridges and form solid alliances, then 4get the SW. Jonathan learnt the hard way. You cannot bite the fingers that fed you.

Drogunov:
You guys will never learn. Continue.

FIFApresident1:
Infact, the former president Good luck Jonathan whom you dumbass believed was betrayed in 2015 supported David Lyon, the pdp candidate in Bayelsa governorship election, can you see your in the mud?

KoshCAD:
Good question at the emboldened.

If so,

The what prompted your wailing about who yorubas want to vote in 2023.

Why acting like a coward.

Then be bold enough to come out and fight for the title, no to be writing insipid epistle.

Same epistle you wrote for Atiku that didn't pay him.

Obasanjo was a candidate not wanted by yorubas but your northern master which you slave joined in supporting. That is the fact.

Stop lying about innocent Awolowo, he never starved your children. Stop that concorted lie against him


Ojukwu was the one that starved his people.

RemoveKebab:
Continue with politics of emotions.

No strategies

100yrs in Nigeria to come una go still dey wail las las.

Thank goodness say SS wise pass all this rubbish.
At least 2 wise southern regions are enough.

FIFApresident1:
Alaye Sharaap, I said inconsequential Nairaland pdp members.

I didn't bother to go through the rest of the post coz I knew they are bunch of garbages.

KoshCAD:
Why dudging Tofa and Abiola abi he also starved your anguish father?

KoshCAD:
Good question at the emboldened.

If so,

The what prompted your wailing about who yorubas want to vote in 2023.

Why acting like a coward.

Then be bold enough to come out and fight for the title, no to be writing insipid epistle.

Same epistle you wrote for Atiku that didn't pay him.

Obasanjo was a candidate not wanted by yorubas but your northern master which you slave joined in supporting. That is the fact.