Senator Godiya Akwashiki has pleaded with Nigerians to be patient and allow the ‘hate speech’ bill to pass through normal legislative process.
According to Godiya Akwashiki who is the vice-chairman of senate committee on media, the senate will quash the bill if it realises that the bill ‘would create hardship, or bring crisis for the people of Nigeria’.
The proposed legislation was reintroduced on Tuesday shortly after the upper legislative chamber introduced a bill to regulate social media.
Many Nigerians including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have opposed the bill described as an attempt to clamp down on freedom of speech in the country.
While addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Akwashiki, however, said whether it will be passed or not depends on the impact it would have on the lives of Nigerians.
“If it is a bill that will represent the wishes and interests, it would scale second reading. (But) if it is a bill that would create hardship, or bring crisis for the people of Nigeria, I want to assure that it will be killed on the floor of the Senate by other senators when it comes for second reading,” he said.
“Yes, it has not been mentioned for the second time on the floor of the senate; even if it scales second reading, it will protect your interests and give immunity without fear or favour. I want to assure you.
He also urged Nigerians to be patient and allow the bill go through the normal legislative process, especially as the bill had only been called for first reading.
“I want to urge Nigerians to exercise patience with the senate because it is not wise or legally right for me to discuss a bill that has not been mentioned for the second time on the floor of the senate,” he said.
“It is just like you are trying to discuss somebody’s sickness when you have not approached a doctor. I want to urge you to be patient, when the Bill comes for second then you will know where the bill is heading.”
Such bills need not be given any opportunity to be mentioned as this is a step towards propou ding draconian laws for Nigerians. Like Senator Abaribe asked… If this law had been in existence during GEJ’s tenure, where would Lai Mohammed be by now? Recall all the insults Lai Mohammed and the APC three at GEJ in 2015. Why are these people bent on destroying the freedom of Nigerians? Don’t you think this is another way of telling Nigerians to forget about our right to peaceful protests and agitation, as a hate speech will always be determined by the state of mind of the person involved at any point in time!!!
Another draconian step by the APC. Nigerians should please arise against draconian laws please!!!