Ismaeel Uthman
THE official twitter handle of the State Government of Osun, @StateofOsun, has been deactivated, findings have revealed.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that the twitter handle was being handled by one of the aides of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The verified account was deactivated few days ago, according to findings.
The development has sparked reactions from twitter users and other citizens of Osun who had been engaging the state government through the twitter handle.
A civil right activist, Anthony Adejuwon, who raised alarm on the deactivation of the twitter handle on his personal twitter account, described the action as “height of shortsightedness.”
Adejuwon, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “This is the height of shortsightedness on the part of who felt that the handle is his personal property. It means that whoever deactivated that account has completely cut the people of Osun away from the government because that was a reliable source of information for the people.
“The current administration should ensure that that the platform is functioning again. It is so disheartening.
“It was not a private handle for anyone. It was not just an ordinary handle; it was a verified handle which means any information that comes from is verified.
“If someone refused to hand over that handle to the Ministry of Information which is there permanently, then it speaks volume of the kind of politics and governance we are running.
“You cannot say you are no more in government and go away with a public account, and whoever was handling that account was being paid from the taxes collected from the people. You’re serving the people not the government and politicians.
“We all know the importance of that account in this 21st century. It is the easiest and fastest way to get information across to the people. Deactivating an official and verified twitter handle of a state government is uncalled for.
“The current administration should investigate that and ensure that such thing does not happen again. They should get the account back and ensure that the people have access to verified information.”
