#TwitterBan: RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye Defies FG’s Directive, Says Tweets Are Within Human Rights

By Edna Wande Last updated Jun 7, 2021

General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, says tweeting is in accordance with Article 19 of United Nations universal declaration of human rights, irrespective of the controversial ban on Twitter by the Federal Government.

Adeboye said the prohibition of Twitter use by Buhari’s administration violated international rights conventions and would be disregarded by his church members.

Ignoring FG’s directive not to use Twitter or risk being prosecuted, Adeboye tweeted;

The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories. The tweets here are in accordance to (sic) Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories. The tweets here are in accordance to Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) June 7, 2021

Article 19 of UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads;

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Adeboye’s congregation is one of the largest in Nigeria with thousands of branches over all the world.

Federal Government’s decision to suspend the app has continued to generate widespread outrage amongst Nigerians, with legal experts suggesting that it was essentially a suspension of Nigerian Constitution since there was no law prohibiting the use of Twitter in Nigeria.

British, American and Canadian governments as well as the European Union have jointly condemned the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

The directive was given as many Nigerians continued to use the social media platform via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), a move which has further infuriated the government even as Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Saturday said those still tweeting would be prosecuted.

In addition, earlier today, National Broadcasting Commission which regulates broadcasting in Nigeria ordered all television and radio stations to deactivate their Twitter accounts and stop using content from the platform.