By Salisu Sani-Idris/Jessica Dogo
Abuja – The Savanah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a pro-democracy group, on Thursday pledged to partner with the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) to prevent hate speech ahead of 2019 general elections.
The Chairman and Founder of the organisation, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari made the pledge when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of NPC, Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, in Abuja.
He said that hate speech was a threat to national stability, noting that more than 8,000 people were slaughtered in 1994 in Rwanda as a result of hate speech.
Gambari expressed determination of the centre to support the council address factors affecting its effective performance with a view to strengthen regulatory framework on the journalism practise.
“In this group you have a very highly experience talented people and practitioners, who bring their expertise and competencies to the very objectives of the council.
“What we are looking for really is partnership with you in three key areas of research and documentation, advocacy and training
“So we are interested in joining advocacy with the NPC and other relevant organisations to prevent hate speech ahead of 2019 elections, Gambari said.
Dr Tom Adaba, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said that the media practitioners have a crucial role to play in discouraging hate speech in the country.
“I don’t really think there is anybody that wants to be identified with hate speech,“ Adaba said.
Responding, Njemanze commended the centre for having interest to address legal gaps that exist in the code of ethics on journalism as it relates to the propagation of hate speech.
He urged media practitioners to avoid the use of intemperate, indecent and unethical language in their reportage, adding that the media has a critical role to play in national stability.
The executive secretary disclosed that the council organised training and capacity building workshop for journalists to discuss the issues of hate, rumour mongering and how to stem it in the media.
“ We believe that the NPC can partner with the Savanah Centre to drive its vision of engendering high media accountability, “ Njemanze said.
The Centre is a nongovernmental organisation that aims to contribute to an integrated Africa that is prosperous, peaceful and driven by its own citizens, and represents a dynamic force in the international arena.