By Audrey Lotechukwu
THUR 15 APRIL, 2021-theGBJournal-The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hit back at criticisms over the Twitter’s decision to cite the Headquarters of its African operations in Ghana, dismissing the decision as ‘’a no issue,’’ and in the same vein thrashed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for offering an acerbic view on the matter.
The opposition PDP Wednesday in a statement said ‘’President Muhammadu Buhari and his Party’s (APC) misrule pushed Twitter to locate its African Headquarters in Ghana instead of Nigeria.’’
‘’Twitter’s preference for Ghana over Nigeria was occasioned by inconsistent economic policies, obnoxious suppression of free speech, stifling of online freedom and open internet by the Buhari administration and the APC,’’ the PDP wrote.
Following from the criticism, the APC said in its response signed by its National Secretary, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, that the decision or rationale of private concerns, particularly businesses on where to cite their operations are their exclusive preserve.
‘’However, for PDP that mocks the country and its citizens over what it celebrates as missed ‘business prospects,’ such political party does not mean well for the country and should definitely not be considered as a governance option.’’
According to the APC, ‘’It is exhausting and depressing highlighting PDP’s ignominious past. The APC will rather consolidate and focus on how Nigeria is finally getting it right under President Muhammadu Buhari.’’
The APC noted the array of multinational technology companies with offices in Nigeria including Facebook, Google, the world’s largest brewer Anheuser Buch InBev as well as multinational food manufacturing giants, Kellog.
‘’How come what the PDP terms the present ‘’misrule’’ did not stop multinationals from establishing their multi-billion naira brewery and factory in Nigeria.’’
According to the ruling party, Nigeria has earned $2.6 billion of global volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), surpassing major competitor South Africa ($2.5 billion), according to latest 2020 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD), despite uncertainties over the ev0olution of COVID-19 pandemic.
‘’Nigeria’s current status as Africa’s largest economy was achieved under the President Buhari-led APC administration and our industrious citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries.’’
The APC noted also that Nigeria is doing a lot through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) which was set up by his administration to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria and the ongoing implementation of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
‘’Nigeria is on the right trajectory and the PDP cannot wish away these solid achievements.’’
The APC in the statement reminded Twitter and other frontline social media platforms of their important responsibilities to curb fake news, disinformation and hate speech.
‘’In the last U.S. presidential election, the proactive roles played by social media operators in checking fake news and divisive rhetoric is a solid pointer to how proper social media usage ultimately benefits society. We expect no less in Nigeria from social media operators.’’
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