Adesina, Dahiru, Olorunyomi seek stiffer laws on hate speech

The trio of Femi Adesina, Umar Dahiru and Dapo Olorunyomi, have called for stiffer legislation on hate speech to reduce the tension ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Adesina is the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to President Muhammadu Buhari, Dahiru is former chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters while Olorunyomi is the Publisher of Premium Times online media.
The three-some made the call at a conference on hate speech with the theme “Curbing Hate Speech on Social Media” and campus journalists’ award held in Abuja at the weekend.
While making his opening speech, Adesina appealed to the political class to learn from the evil that befell Rwanda and Kenya as a result of hate speech from their leaders which created tension and civil disturbances for the two nations.
He said, given the harm being done to the nation by the avalanche of hate speech, “It will not be out of place for stiff er legislation to be put in place to curb and check the use of hate speech to settle issues, but the most important one is personal check from unguarded utterances”.
Speaking further, he said that Nigerians must check and guard personal utterances, especially unsubstantiated allegations capable of provoking misunderstanding among various groups and political class.
“Let me say it here that hate speech does nobody any good and we must learn from what befell Rwanda and Kenya as a result of hate speech and unguarded statement from their leaders.
” Speaking in the same vein, former chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Umar Dahiru appealed to the political, religious leaders and indeed the entire Nigerians to sustain the prevailing peace in the country.
“Laws are there to check inflicting of injuries to our country through hate speech, but I plead that we moderate our speeches and avoid remarks and sentiments capable of causing tension and chaos for loss of election or any other reasons,” Dahiru said.
The guest speaker at the occasion and publisher of Premium Times, Mr.
Dapo Olorunyomi appealed that education and debate be effectively used against hate speech so as to ensure sustainability of the nation’s democracy.
Olorunyomi, whose lecture was centred on the activities of the social media, appealed to owners of online media to uphold credibility and integrity, adding that all process leading news gathering and dissemination must be made credible, accurate and truthful.

 

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