The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was racist when he wrote about the ‘inferiority’ of African culture, but he was correct about the temperamental and emotional nature of black Africans; a pointed type of sensitivity that was revealed in the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), when he let his emotions flow out heatedly.

In his targeted tweet, Buhari warned Igbos that “those misbehaving today” would be “treated in the language they understand.” Buhari was referring to Nigeria’s Civil War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970 and claimed the lives of over one million people. Who sends out that kind of tweet?

Buhari’s caustic remark, which threatened suspected separatist activists in the South-East, was deleted by Twitter after it was deemed disrespectful and severe. Twitter simply suspended his account for 12 hours.

As if Hegel’s assessment of African emotionality were correct, Buhari and his dictatorship acted quickly to suspend Twitter’s operations indefinitely. A huge error!

The dictatorship claimed that it blocked the microblogging site because it had been used for dissident and criminal activities, but most people across the world saw it as a visceral, furious reaction that might have had serious economic and social ramifications for millions of people.

It might have cost lives, especially because critical public agencies such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control were using Twitter to share information about the development of the COVID-19 epidemic.

During the Buharian injunction or suspension, the Twitter account went offline. I would not be shocked if Buhari, as a person and leader, does not face legal action to recompense victims of wrongful suspension, now or in the future.

Buhari removed the Twitter ban on Wednesday, seven months after it was imposed. This apparent sentimental reaction to Twitter affected millions of Internet users in the country, costing the economy more than $1.4 billion. Wow. It’s all due of emotions! A costly response to a burgeoning economy. Especially at a time when Nigerians are facing immense economic hardship and the unemployment rate is exceptionally high.

While the Buhari dictatorship claimed that Twitter agreed to grant its officials the right to remove tweets deemed a threat to Nigerian security, Twitter did precisely that when it deleted Buhari’s threatening Tweet. Just as it did with former US President Donald Trump, who frequently broke Twitter’s rules until he was permanently suspended from the site and other social media platforms.

The Buhari administration stated that “many agreements had been reached” with the massive social media network, including a commitment to establish a legal business in Nigeria and assigning a designated local representative to cooperate with the Nigerian government. Twitter replied to the restoration of operations in Nigeria, citing its commitment to freedom of expression, stating that its aim is to serve the public conversation globally. In other words, instructing Buhari and his regime to increase civic communication.

We have so many worrying regional and communal strains in Nigeria, so if Twitter can find a method to bring value to commercial and good engagements, it will be greatly appreciated.

What Buhari must realize is that Twitter has a major rule known as the ‘glorification of violence’ policy, which attempts to prevent direct or indirect encouragement of violence that may incite others to engage in violent expressions and activities.

If Buhari, as Nigeria’s President, makes the slightest mistake in the next days, weeks, and months and violates the company’s policies about “glorifying violence,” he will face the Trump treatment, with his account suspended for a short period of time and possibly permanently.

Buhari, even if you house Twitter’s local office in Aso Villa, if you violate their rules regarding abusive language directed at any group in Nigeria, including bandits in the North, separatist agitators in the South-East, and self-determination groups in the West and Niger Delta, Twitter will discipline you.

If Twitter determines that your statements are frequently hostile or promote violence, your account, like Trump’s, may be permanently suspended.

This will be done in a classic American manner, with fairness and equitable treatment.

They do not give a hoot about needs, sentiments, emotions, and the status of the individual, as no one is above regulations and must not use social media to directly or indirectly promote violence.

Trump has been going from court to court, asking judges to order Twitter to restore his account; instead, the courts agreed with the social media megaphone that any company’s punishment for tweeting that violates the platform’s rules, such as glorifying violence, stands.

Buhari should not let this happen to him. In passing, he should inform the heads of his MDAs and their officials that any tweet that is defamatory, harassing, malicious to citizens or businesses, grossly deceptive, or offensive to one’s character, reveals citizens’ personal information, or illegally copies tweets will result in Twitter action. Remember, I advised you on this ooo.

As Mr. President prepares to leave office in 17 months and return to Daura, Katsina, to tend his cattle, Nigerians would like to hear more from him on social media about his agricultural adventure. As a result, he must control his statements and posts on Twitter, whether they are made by him or his advisers, as well as other social media platforms.

Again, Twitter’s regulations are intended to ensure that users do not incite violence, and if they do, they must be removed from the service, and their policies prohibit people from returning.

I understand that the pointless executions are becoming emotionally unpleasant, but the President and his officials should battle against the Hegelian ideology of Africans’ strong reactions, which may manifest as emotional provocations against Twitter’s rules. No more digital vexation, especially the kind that would enrage Buhari and cause him to retaliate by restricting social media access. Stop it! Nigerians, rejoice! Twitter is back!