CSOs protest against hate speech bill

Activities at the premises of the national assembly were on Tuesday partially disrupted by the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which took it’s protest against the Social Media and Hate Speech Bills to the national legislative House.

Co-convener of the protest Nwazuruhe Shield said their demand was for lawmakers to outrightly drop the bill in the legislative dustbin as its content contravenes provisions of the Constitution which guaranteed the rights of citizens.

The protesters bore placards bearing with inscriptions such as ‘say no to hate speech bill;’ say no to social media bill;’ protect free speech’ amongst others.

The two bills are before the Senate “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations and for other related matters, 2019,” sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, (Niger East)

The bill has passed second reading in Senate.

The second bill, which prescribed death penalty by hanging, entitled: “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2019”, was sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

Public outcry against the notorious bill forced the sponsor of the bill to beat a retreat in the obnoxious penalty of death by hanging, as he appealed to the public that vexed portion of the bill on death by hanging will be expunged from the bill.

Among their demand wasn’t he call for the release of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, Abba Jalingo and Cephas Steven and other Nigerians who are currently being held by security agencies against court orders that granted them bail.

Nwazuruhe noted that there are existing laws in Nigeria which are appropriate for dealing with the issues the Bills are meant to address.

The President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan assured the protesters that the bill was at the mercy of the public and their position would be pivotal in the life of the bill.

Lawan was represented by Senators Uba Sani and Oseni Yakubu Kaduna Central and Kogi Central who received and addressed the protesters on behalf of the Chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Senator, Ahmad Lawan.

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Sani said: “We have heard your agitation. We believe it is a very important agitation. Some of us in the Chamber has also been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in the country.

“The two bills in question are bills that were introduced by some of our colleagues. Some of us in the National Assembly, including the Senate President, would appear at the public hearing. Whatever Nigerians want is what the 9th Senate would do.

“The law is not about the 109 Senators. It is about Nigerians. Democracy is about free speech, it is about the rule of law. That is why their voices are extremely important.

“That is why we believe that your agitation is valid and also in the best interest of our own county. We are going to certainly work with you on the day of the public hearing.

“I have no doubt in my mind that if Nigerians don’t want these bills, even though they are being sponsored by our colleagues, certainly it won’t escape the public hearing. I can assure you we are going to do whatever is in the best interest of our own country.

“We are aware of Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act and some of us are on the same page with these agitations.

“We are not guided by any political affiliation. We are guided by the law and concerned about the progress of our own country,” Sani said.

On his part, Senator Yakubu, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, said: “I want to assure you that the 9th Senate is not in any way an appendage of the executive.

“No single bill will pass without a public hearing. We are here to make laws for Nigerians, not the Senate. We are all here to protect the interests of Nigerians,” Oseni said.