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HATE SPEECH BILL:  A REPETITION OF EXTANT LAWS.

By - Idorenyin Inoh




It is no longer news that the Senate which is the only arm of government that represent the voices of over 180 million Nigerians is trying to gauge the flow of information and simultaneously duplicate other EXTANT laws .

The defamation law, sedition law, official secret act etc.  are all in active service. The notion to gauge information flow under the pretext of hate speech is undemocratic, unjustifiable and as well a mockery on the judiciary because what constitutes hate speech should be defined by a competent court of jurisdiction.

If one is defamed or faces character assassination, the way forward is to Head to Court. Using the perimeters of hate speech to send citizens to their early graves is demonic and lacks moral justification.

If the hate speech bill come to stay as a law, it will be an international embarrassment on the image of Nigeria as a sovereign nation.

The establishment of Hate Speech act will show the return of dictatorship rule. As a democratic entity.  Whatever that seeks to work against democratic tenants should be eschewed by both those at corridors of power and private citizens.

Howbeit, if the Senate really wants to regulate the system, the ball is in their court by ensuring all the components of Nigeria works effectively this will reduce hate speech. 

This components are power, good and motorable roads, viable aviation industry,  quality water for human consumption, transparent electoral process at all tiers of government, local government autonomy, state of the art educational system. Strong military system with updated weaponry, every entity of Nigeria should be well represented etc.
Summarily, the Hate Speech bill is against  democratic principles and as far as the libertarian and democratic participant theory of the press is concerned there is no locu-standi.

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