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| AGF Lateef Fagbemi |
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has issued a stern warning to politicians who disparage Nigeria on social media, asserting that such individuals are unfit to lead the nation.
Speaking at the Abuja Social Media Summit on September 18, 2024, Fagbemi emphasized the importance of responsible social media use for national development.
He criticized those who undermine Nigeria’s reputation for political gain, stating that only unpatriotic citizens would engage in such behavior. The AGF highlighted the potential of social media to foster economic growth and innovation while cautioning against its misuse, which can lead to misinformation and division.
Fagbemi called for unity among Nigerians and urged them to leverage social media positively, promoting entrepreneurship and civic engagement.
He reiterated that political differences should not justify damaging the country’s image internationally, stressing that leaders who do so should never hold power in Nigeria
“All hands must be on deck in efforts to transform Nigeria into a greater nation devoid of bickering. The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to leading the country out of the woods,” Fagbemi said.
He said further: “Just as they say that social media neither sleeps nor slumbers, we must watch our word! Weigh it before you utter it. For, once uttered, it cannot be retrieved.
“No individual should use his freedom of speech on social media to infringe upon the rights of another as it is fast becoming the order of the day. We must also be careful of what we say about our country.
“Political differences should not make us de-market our country on the international stage. Only unpatriotic citizens or leaders will choose to do so. Those who speak ill of their country to settle political differences should never have the opportunity to lead the same country at any stage.”
Fagbemi, who was represented at the event by his spokesman Kamarudeen Ogundele, said harnessing the power of social media for national development involves leveraging social media platforms to promote economic growth, improve governance, enhance civic engagement, and foster societal progress.
The AGF said social media promotes transparency and accountability; citizen participation and engagement; public service announcements and information dissemination; feedback mechanisms and complaint resolution.
He, however, noted that with all the advantages of social media are the attendant challenges and limitations such as digital divide and inequality, misinformation and disinformation, cybersecurity threats, and privacy concerns.
“To overcome these challenges, governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders must work together to create an enabling environment for social media-driven national development,” he said.
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