Godiya Akwashiki, acting
spokesman of the senate, says the bill seeking to prohibit hate speech in the
country has nothing to do with the “third term bid of President Muhammadu
Buhari”.
There have been allegations that
the bill is meant to pave way for an alleged third term of Buhari.
But speaking with reporters on
Monday, Akwashiki said the president does not have anything to do with bill,
adding that Nigerians do not have anything to be afraid of.
Sabi Abdullahi, deputy chief whip
of the senate, is the sponsor of the bill.
“It is the right of the senator
to sponsor a bill tagged ‘private senator bill’ even if we have executive bill.
But the hate speech bill before the senate is a private senator’s bill. Mr
President has nothing to do with this issue.
“It has nothing to do with third
term agenda. It has nothing to do with Islamising this country. Spokesmen of
political parties should mind the way they speak. We should be peace lovers and
peace keepers.”
Also speaking with journalists,
the sponsor of the bill said he is not deterred from going ahead with bill
despite death threats.
“I am not a coward. I am a full
blown Nigerian. I have no reason to shy away from my responsibility,” Abdullahi
said.
‘I have received all kinds of
messages some even including threats but I am not bothered about that. In all
of these, if I receive one commendation, it gladdens my heart and I did receive
many commendations and one stood out and said there is so much hate in this
country. We must check it.
“If you meet those who have lost
their loved ones arising from religious or ethnicity intolerance, and the like,
I don’t think they will be smiling with you when you tell them hate speech is
nonsense or does not exist.
“They have felt, seen and are
living as victims of hate speech. When laws are put in place and no offence is
committed, those laws become redundant.”
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