- PDP lawmakers vow to continue tweeting
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the House of Representatives yesterday staged as walkout in protest against Speaker Femi Gbabiamila’s handling of deliberation on the suspension of Twitter by the Federal Government.
Before the walkout, the Speaker had mandated the House joint committee on Communication, Information, Justice and National Security to investigate the legality of the government action. The committee was given 10 days to submit its finding(s).
Recall that the Federal Government on June 4 suspended the operations of Twitter, micro-blogging firm. It said Twitter’s activities were capable of undermining the country’s corporate existence”
The protest by some of the PDP members erupted when an observation by Caucus leader Kingsley Chinda that the 10 days were too long was ruled out of order by Gbajabiamila.
While the Speaker was about to read the next business of the day, Chinda interrupted, insisting he had a right to be heard.
House Leader, Ado Doguwa then stood to caution the caucus leader.
”Hon. Chinda, be guided” Doguwa kept saying some members, apparently indifferent, shouting “go and tweet if you want to.”
The Speaker had in his welcome address directed the investigative committee to invite Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed to “brief the House on the objectives, intent, and duration of the suspension on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.”
Gbajabiamila explained that the report of the joint committee would guide the House in taking an informed decision for the benefit of Nigerians.
However, coming under matters of privilege, Chinda said waiting for 10 days would amount to the suspension remaining in place.
Chinda said, “Mr. Speaker, I stand on Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human and Peoples Right and Article 9 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.
“As a representative of the people, I have a source of communication with my constituents, I have a source of interaction with my leaders. But in moving this, I must, with all sense of responsibility commend the steps you took this(Tuesday) morning concerning this issue of ban of Twitter. It was very proactive and very timely.
“But my concern is that as a Nigerian and several other Nigerians out there, the implication is that for the 10 days you have given that committee to work, this breach will continue. We don’t even know for how long thereafter our interaction with the Executive arm will last.
“While I agree with the submission of the leadership of this House completely, I will only want to add that for the breach of our fundamental human rights, particularly the right to a fair hearing, right to freedom of speech and expression, we should urge the Executive to, in the interim, reverse the ban.”
But the Speaker ruled him out of order, saying since the matter has been referred to a committee, it would be wrong for it to be revived.
At this stage, all efforts by Chinda to be heard proved abortive with Doguwa and Chief Whip Mohammed Mongunu insisting that he (Chinda) must be guided.
Chinda and some other members of the PDP caucus walked out of the plenary, insisting that they will continue to tweet.
Also rising under matters of privilege, Adamu Gagdi alleged that there was an earlier plan by some members to disrupt the business of the House.
“What just happened is an insult to Nigerians and it shows that it was preplanned. Some members of the parliament cannot suffocate the parliament. We should stop this conspiracy of going to stop sitting because something did not go your way.”
Gagdi suggested that the walkout by the PDP caucus members “must be investigated”.
The caucus members later addressed reporters, vowing to continue tweeting. They said they were ready to surrender themselves to the Office of Attorney General of the Federation and the Police for prosecution.
Chinda said: “The Federal Government should lift the ban placed on Twitter in the interim, pending the interaction between the Legislature and the Executive.
”We have said that every member of the PDP caucus would continue to tweet. We are calling on the Attorney-General to leave Nigerians alone, do not prosecute Nigerians. We are their representatives.
“We will tweet. Any day you want to prosecute us, tell us the court and the time; we will be there ourselves to surrender to your prosecution.
“Do not prosecute any Nigerian, prosecute us – members of the PDP caucus in the House. If you want to jail, jail us if we have committed an offence. We surrender ourselves on behalf of Nigerians.”
Gbajabiamila in a statement after plenary acknowledged the role of Twitter as an important platform for “communication and commerce in Nigeria, particularly among the younger generation.”
He explained in the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, that the House must react to the development with caution, first by bringing the government’s decision under scrutiny through investigation.