Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has accused Canadian authorities and Twitter of double standard for branding anti-vax protesters as insurrectionists, but supporting #EndSARS in Nigeria. 

The ongoing protest in Canada tagged “Freedom Convoy” began over a new rule introduced on January 15, which stipulates that all truckers must be vaccinated to cross the US-Canada border. The vehicular convoys were then joined by thousands of pedestrian protesters. Several offshoot protests have blockaded provincial capitals and border crossings with the United States, causing major economic disruption.

The protests is still ongoing and protesters have stated that they will not leave until all COVID-19 restrictions and mandates have been repealed. Officials have also expressed concern about the economic impact of border blockades.

Mohammed in a statement he released today February 13, alleged that Canada and Twitter which he claimed called those “hoodlums” who destroyed public and private property in Nigeria during the EndSARS protest “peaceful protesters”, tagged similar protesters in their countries as insurrectionists and terrorists.

Listing some of the steps taken by Canadian authorities and some platforms to shut down the protest, the Minister said Nigerians must put their country first at all times and should not allow anyone to destroy the country under the guise of protest or unbridled freedoms.

The statement reads in full; 

I am sure you journalists are watching with keen interest the events unfolding in Canada, where truckers are protesting over Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions

The Canadian protesters, who have blockaded roads and resorted to inconveniencing others, have been branded as terrorists or insurrectionists and subjected to a number of clampdowns by government and private organizations.

The crowdfunding company GoFundMe has shut down the campaign to raise funds for the truckers, after they raised over US$10m, Twitter has suspended the truckers account while the Ontario government has frozen access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the protesters.

Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, has also declared a state of emergency in the city in response, saying the protests posed a threat to residents’ safety.

Recall, gentlemen, that during the EndSars protest, which culminated in the blockage of public roads and massive destruction of government and private property, Canada was one of the countries that spoke out in support of the protesters.

Recall also that Twitter actively supported the EndSars protesters and even helped them to raise fund while GoFundMe was used to raise funds for the protests. These are the same entities that are now rushing to distance themselves from the protesters in Canada and even denying them the use of their platforms.

This is similar to what played out during the January 6th 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol In Washington, D.C. where those involved are either still being investigated or have been charged to court. I don’t blame them.

Nobody wants their country destroyed under the guise of protests.

Don’t misunderstand this intervention. We are not gloating over the unfortunate development in Canada. But we are only calling attention to the double standard involved in the way protesters deemed to be violent are perceived in Nigeria and in the West.

Those who referred to the hoodlums who destroyed public and private property in Nigeria under the guise of EndSars as peaceful protesters have tagged similar protesters in their own countries as insurrectionists and terrorists. This glaring double standard should not be lost on all Nigerians.

We have always said that you must have a country before you can even enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by your country’s constitution. If there is no Nigeria, no one will be talking of freedom of expression or freedom of association and the likes.

This realization explains why every country goes the extra mile to protect and preserve itself. And this also explains why we have continued to insist on the regulation of social media to ensure responsible content. In this area, I can confidently say we are far ahead of most countries in the world, who have now realized that social media must be regulated in the interest of their own people. In this area, I can confidently say we are far ahead of most countries in the world, who have now realized that social media must be regulated in the interest of their own people.

In this regard, our successful negotiation with Twitter to fashion out measures to ensure a responsible use of that platform which by the way, will also apply to other social media platforms, has made us a global trail blazer in efforts to prevent harmful content from social media platforms.

Gentlemen, we must not allow anyone to destroy our country under the guise of protest or unbridled freedoms. We all must put Nigeria first at all times.