Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling him an “idiot” for the decision to ban Twitter in Nigeria. Speaking at the CANEX Live Theatre closing ceremony of the 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Cairo, Egypt, Soyinka expressed his disagreement with Buhari’s approach to the issue, emphasizing the need for constructive and methodical regulation of the internet and social media.
Soyinka argued that while there are challenges, the regulation of the internet should be approached with careful consideration. He questioned who would regulate it and suggested that the process should include elements of education. Soyinka highlighted the impact of internet language, especially among younger generations, and proposed a potential revision of the educational system to address the evolving digital landscape.
The Nigerian government, led by Buhari, had indefinitely suspended Twitter’s operations in the country on June 4, 2021. The ban, which lasted for 222 days, was lifted on January 13, 2022. Soyinka criticized the arbitrary nature of the ban, stating that any regulation should be constructive, methodical, and structured.
Soyinka expressed concern about the debasement of values, including the use of appropriate language, in the online space. He emphasized the need for a more critical approach to internet communication and urged the publishing enterprise to play a significant role in addressing the challenges posed by the digital era.
The literary icon’s comments reflect a broader conversation about the regulation of online platforms and the balance between freedom of expression and addressing issues such as hate speech and misinformation on the internet.
