Journalists, media stakeholders and academics, from across the country converged on Kano state to find ways of addressing the vexed issue of hate speech. BASHIR MOHAMMED, who was at the workshop, reports
Hate speech in democracy
Hate speech in the present democratic dispensation is a recurring decimal and like hydra headed monster, seeking to destroy the unity of Nigeria as one indivisible entity in the face of the proliferation of different outlets of easy communication like the social media which made it easier for one to post his message devoid of censorship.
Credible source of disseminating information
The conventional media as it is known, still remained the most promising and credible source of disseminating information to the public, be it from the circles of government or public domain, as its operations are fully guided by the provision of the constitution and the practitioners of the noble journalism profession, are expected to conduct their professional business within the confines of stipulated laws.
Resurgence of social media
It is an incontrovertible fact that the resurgence of social media in the digital age, has undoubtedly opened the floodgate for vicious attack on the personality of those who may have had an axe to grind with those perceived to have stepped on their toes either on account of political differences or ethnic and religious pedigree, regardless of the consequences to be suffered as a result.
With the barrage of hate speech and the pugilist vocabulary coming out from those who found solace in using both social and conventional media to vent their spleen, pundits have concurred with the fact that the task of addressing such an abysmal rot lies at the onus of the genuine professionals in the field of media business, who are fully conversant with the nitty gritty of disseminating credible news for the public to consume.
Such a gauntlet has appeared to be taken by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists under the leadership of Comrade Waheed Odusule, who had organized the 2nd NUJ National Conference, which was hosted by the Kano State government.
3-day conference
The 3-Day Conference which was declared open by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, witnessed the attendance of the creme-de la creme of the journalism profession from all the 36 states in the federation and the presence of notable names drawn from the academia in addition to the presence of past NUJ Presidents which made the Conference colourful and an epoch-making one.
Setting the ball rolling, was the NUJ National President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusule , who spoke at length on the need for practitioners of the noble profession to discern their role as agents of unity, cohesion and peace in the present turbulent democratic age, where competing forces are becoming desperate to wield their influence.
Primordial considerations
According to him, journalists as gate keepers are expected to play their professional game in line with the stipulated rules, affirming that it is the constitutional responsibility of the pushers of the pen to strive to live above board at the time when the apologists of hate speech are desperately working round the clock to cause chaos and anarchy on the alter of primordial considerations.
It was however the contention of the NUJ President that despite the fact that the right to freedom of expression in a democratic setting is sacrosanct, there is the compelling need for media practitioners to avoid anything capable of inflaming passion noting that hate speech had inflicted an incalculable damage in places where its consequences were taken with a pinch of salt.
Sounding a note of warning to those taking solace on propounding the notion of hate speech on the alter of primordial consideration to realize the folly of their evil machination, Odusule further revealed that the promoters of hate speech have no safe haven to escape, since what they are doing is like a Frankenstein monster seeking to consume them.
Evolution of partisan politics
Speaking in the same vein, was the fire brand Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who minced no words in telling the audience that the evolution of partisan politics during the hey days of the first republic had not been characterized by hate speech, knowing that the founding fathers of the country had toiled blood and sweat to maintain the unity and cohesion they have built on the premise of nationalism, patriotism and trust.
According to him, no democratic dispensation all over the globe could ever be feasible and realistic with the vicious circle of hate speech taking a heavy toll on the unity of Nigeria as one indivisible country lamenting that with the advent of social media platform, , the right to freedom of expression had been grossly abused at the expense of national interest.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. D. Grace Yusuf Ekpe, said it is the responsibility of journalists to be fully guided by their professional ethics , knowing that the public had reposed an unfettered confidence in them, and that promoting hate speech is inimical to national interest.
Promoters of hate speech
In his contribution, one time President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Muhammad Sani Zorro, admonished the promoters of hate speech to exercise some degree of circumspection as they are creating room for unnecessary chaos at the time when the search for a lasting and sustainable peace is almost becoming an elusive chimera.
According to him, Nigeria as one indivisible entity was built on the foundation of trust, which one can clearly be discern retrospectively and wondered why some retrogressive elements are choosing to cause confusion and chaos on account of their failure to see things beyond their noses.
He said with the advent of social media, things begun to take a dismal pace in the face of the flair of those who want use the social media platform in promoting their parochial interest positing that with the media practitioners going back to the drawing board in injecting some considerable sanity into the way and manner information is being disseminated to the public, the issue of building a strong and virile Nigeria would be consolidated without one paying a price.
Speaking in the same vein, the two time President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Muhammad Garba, said the menace of hate speech is like a destructive canker worm that had eaten deep into the body fabric of the nation and that unless and until urgent steps are taken to address the rot, the future would absolutely be dicey for the country.
Disturbing trend
He said the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists under the firm leadership of Alhaji Waheed Odusule, had really deserved a pat on the back for conceiving the idea to hold the 2nd NUJ National Conference to tackle the disturbing trend of hate and dangerous speech at the time Nigeria is at the threshold of practicing democracy and at the same time making concerted effort to preserve its unity, which must be considered as sacrosanct.
He said the Ganduje administration had accorded all working journalists and owners of private Broadcast Media Stations to operate without impediment stressing that there was never a time when the administration had ever employed executive fiat to gag or censor the press.
Laudable projects
Governor Ganduje on his part had told everyone who cared to listen that his administration had taken the bull by the horns in forging ahead with laudable projects he inherited from his predecessor in addition to initiating a high profile ones that would propel the state to greater height.
He however stated that his relation with the media had been very cordial since the time he assumed the mantle of leadership almost three years ago affirming that his government is fully guided by the mantra of accountability, probity and transparency in the art of governance stressing that no ambitious government could ever achieve its aim without paying discernible human face to the pushers of the pen.
It was however the contention of pundits that Ganduje as an experienced administrator and master of statecraft, had used the presence of notable media gurus during the conference to showcase his marvelous score-card which he had achieved in a jiffy and that he had proven himself as one who had secured the mandate of the electorate in propelling Kano to the height of fame, honour and greatness.
