15th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) held in Sokoto, were unanimous in their rejection and condemnation of the Hate Speech Bill before the Senate.
They said that the bill was unnecessary, as everything needed to punish perpetrators of hate speech was taken care of by extant laws and legislations.
The bill was sponsored by Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger North).
The bill which prescribed the death penalty for offenders, also sought for the establishment of a National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech.
A similar bill was earlier presented to the Senate in March 2018 for consideration but did not make it to third reading.
Leading the pack at the 15th ANEC, Chief Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun, described the bill as direct confrontation of the code of conduct instituted by the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), made up of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
“I don’t think we deserve this hate speech bill, we fought for those who are in political offices now. You all fought, many of you were killed, many of us were sent to jail.
“The social media is not part of us, we are trained journalists, we have our code of conduct instituted by the NPO, for which the NUJ, NPAN, and Guild are all members. We have our standard, we are not part of social media.
“I don’t know why anybody will want to make a law to punish those of us who are part of those who fought for the independence of Nigeria, and we all fought for democracy we all enjoy today, the media was very strong when the issue of return to democracy was on the table,” he said.
The former governor said when he was defamed by Fame magazine and Punch newspapers in 1993 and 2001 respectively, he personally went to court to clear his name.
“When I was governor in 1993, Fame magazine wrote that I have 19 personal cars; immediately Abacha sent us packing in Nov. 17, 1993, the first thing I did was to go to court.
“I sued the magazine for libel, at the end, the magazine apologized.
“In 2001, Punch wrote that I had a child as a governor out of wedlock, I also went to court.
“I am saying all this to show that in our laws, there are enough provisions for anybody to go to court if he or she felt injured.
“So I want to plead with you, that we should fight, let the current provisions of our laws take care, we must not let this hate speech bill go through.
“If it will mean to lobby the senators, I offer myself to the Guild to lead you as a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I hope the senators will be sensible enough.
” We fought for democracy and independence, we shall also fight this one and by the grace of God, we shall overcome,” Osoba said.
In the same vein, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, of Sokoto State, complained of gradual erosion of our laws.
” Our laws are now being obeyed more in the breach, freedom of speech and association are under severe attacks.
“Let us move against the anti-hate speech bill that prescribed death penalty for offenders, this is quite scary, indeed some people question the true intention of the bill.
“There are enough provisions in our laws to deal with people whose actions can undermine national unity and cohesion. Such draconian legislation has no place in a constitutional democracy like ours.
“The media must, therefore, remain vigilant, you have a responsibility to educate and mobilize Nigerians to defend this hard-earned democracy.
“We cannot operate democracy like a military dictatorship, the storms are gathering, we must join hands to checkmate anti-democratic elements,” Tambuwal said.
On his part, NGE President, Mustapha Isah, said editors were not in support and would never support fake news and hate speech, as NGE members are trained professionals.
“But we will not accept any move to surreptitiously curtail press freedom. The social media space, just like any other ecosystem, is being abused by some people.
“But we wish to place on record and to remind the promoters of these bills, that there are laws already in existence to deal with such infractions. We shall not shy away from testing these extant laws.
“Besides, we expect the government to work with critical stakeholders in the media industry to address these challenges,” Isah said.
In a related development, the NUJ also rejected the bill.
Mr Christopher Isiguzo, the NUJ President, spoke during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
He described it as the plan to silence the media and perceived political opponents if eventually passed.
Isiguzo also expressed worries about recent events, adding that most actions taken were targeted to silence journalists.
” These threats and attacks against the media are aimed at inducing fear and self-censorship and these should not be allowed in our democracy is to flourish,” he stated.
Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, described the bill as an “eye service.”
He spoke in Minna, when he hosted the NUJ president.
Babangida said there was no basis for the bill because no one can deny Nigerians their fundamental rights of freedom of expression.
“I am surprised that this bill has resurfaced. There is no basis for this now. We are developing; we should be allowed to develop. If we make mistakes people can be cautioned. If somebody goes off, you have the right to call him to say, no, we don’t want this.
“Unless people are able to express themselves, those in government or in authority will not know what is happening in the country.
“If somebody makes hate speech, put him in the gallows and not shoot him. It is crude and out of tune with the 21st-century reality. It could have happened, maybe some 300 years ago, but not now.
“I am with you on this. I will also talk to those of us who could be in a position to bring sanity to bear on some of these things. if we had their type of media, I think they should be jailing you all by now. But today, the country is better for it,” he said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on its part, described the bill as a ploy to “gag Nigerians.’’
CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, in a statement, called on the National Assembly to drop the bill and focus on legislation that could address insecurity, deplorable infrastructural deficit and general welfare of the people.
“The bill has generated misgivings and criticisms that they have led to uncommon tension and fears among citizens.
“Having looked at all sides to the debate, CAN is calling on the National Assembly, particularly the President of the Senate and all distinguished senators to discountenance the bill and put off completely any contemplation to pass it to law, as sincere lovers of the nation.’’
In what appears to be the response to CAN’s appeal, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, said the Senate won’t pass the proposed bill.
Lawan made the disclosure in response to a detailed written protest letter against the hate speech bill and anti-social media bill before the senate by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA.
He said legislators would listen to the pulse of Nigerians who have rejected the bill and will do exactly as they demanded.
(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria
