… Says APC Government must First Apologise to Nigerians for Being the Number one Promoter and Beneficiary of Hate Speech
… Urges Govt to Embark on Reorientation of Nigerians, Especially the Youths on the Consequences of Hate Speech to the Unity of the Country
… Warns on Danger Inherent in the Blanket Categorisation of Hate Speech as Treasonable.
…Cautions Against Disguised Law of Sedition or Decree 4 of 1984 was used to jail Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor,
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has accused the All Progressives Congress of promoting hate speech as well as the beneficiary of same.
He said the party’s position now to categorise of hate speech as act of terrorism by the federal government is another plot to silence the opposition in the country.
Fayose therefore cautioned the federal government against enforcing the policy.
The governor noted that speaking the truth concerning the country and its rulers should not be termed as hate speech.
He said this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,
Fayose who said he was totally against hate speech and would support any effort to curb it, added that it was important to caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.
Describing the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speeches in the country, Fayose recalled that the party made “several provocative statements” when it was looking for power prior the presidential election.
He said “even if the APC government is sincere with its new found hatred for hate speeches, the APC government must first apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speech.”
The governor counseled that rather than blanket criminalizing of hate speeches, the federal government should embark on reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths on the consequences of hate the unity of the country and restore the confidence of the people in the government.
He said, “While I am totally against hate speech and will support any effort to curb it, it is important to caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable
“I make bold to say that saying the truth concerning the country and its rulers cannot be termed as hate speech.
“I only hope Nigeria is not being systematically returned to the colonial days when the law of sedition was used to jail many of those who fought for our independence or the era of Buhari’s military regime when the notorious Public Officers (Protection against False accusation) Decree 4 of 1984 was used to jail Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, both of The Guardian newspapers for publishing what the government termed as false.
“It is also on record that during the 2011 election campaign, President Buhari’s inciting statement led to widespread violence by his supporters in the North after he lost.
Over 1000 people were slaughtered in cold blood, including innocent National Youth Service
Corp members.
“Therefore, even if the APC government is sincere with its new found hatred for hate speeches, the APC government must first apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speech.” (Daily Post).