The Christian Association of Nigeria has cautioned the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to prosecute Nigerians who violated the Twitter suspension order.
This is just as the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), insists that the prosecution of all violators would go ahead as planned, according to The PUNCH.
WUZUPNIGERIA reported that since the ban on Friday, many Nigerians, including past and present political leaders, religious leaders, as well as other influential Nigerians, have devised the means of Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass the restrictions placed by telecommunications companies and internet service providers.
Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), Nasir ElRufai (Kaduna State) and Samuel Ortom (Benue State), led the list of violators of the ban.
Others include the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi; Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleiman; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili; and representative of Kogi West Senatorial District in the Eighth National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, and so on.
The AGF himself on Tuesday violated the ban and risks prosecution by accessing the platform allegedly through a VPN to deactivate his Twitter account.
However, CAN, through its Special Assistant on Media to the President of CAN, Adebayo Oladeji, warned that the Federal Government would compound the problems of Nigeria if the prosecution threat is carried out against the VIPs.
He added that the religious body does not recognise any government policy that suspends the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
“We caution the Federal Government against carrying out its threats against those highly respected leaders. What they did was justified after all they run churches with global outlook and they made it clear in their position. If they (government) carry out the threat, it will only compound problems in the country.
“Any government policy that suspends the fundamental rights of the citizens is not acceptable to us. The government should rise up to the menace of insecurity facing the country without harassing the innocent and elder statesmen,” he said.
