Politics

‘Any Politician Demarketing Nigeria Does Not Deserve To Be President’ — AGF Fagbemi

Lateef Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has stated that any politician speaking ill of Nigeria deserves no chance to lead the nation.

Fagbemi, who spoke at the Abuja Social Media Summit, themed ‘Harnessing the Power of Social Media for National Development,’ faulted politicians who are fond of “demarketing” Nigeria on social media, asserting that such individuals are unfit to aspire for any leadership position in the country.

The AGF emphasized the necessity for collective efforts to elevate Nigeria into a more prosperous nation, free from discord.

He affirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is dedicated to guiding the country towards a brighter future.

“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,” the AGF said.

Fagbemi, represented at the event by his spokesperson Kamarudeen Ogundele, emphasized that utilizing social media for national development entails capitalizing on these platforms to drive economic advancement, enhance governance, increase civic participation, and promote societal progress.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice stated that social media facilitates transparency and accountability, encourages citizen involvement and engagement, aids in public service announcements and information sharing, and provides feedback and complaint resolution mechanisms.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that despite the numerous benefits of social media, there are significant challenges and limitations, including the digital divide and inequality, the spread of misinformation and disinformation, cybersecurity threats, and concerns regarding privacy.

“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.