Hate Speech Bill: We Will Not Pass Law Detrimental To Nigerians – Lawan
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday said that the 9th National Assembly will not pass any law that would be detrimental to the country.
Lawan, who stated this when he received in audience members of the Board and Management of the African Independent Television (AIT), in his office, said members of the Senate love Nigeria and we will do all they could to ensure there is good governance, orderliness and ensure that citizens have their rights protected.
The visit by the AIT management was to extend an invitation to the Senate President to a Town Hall meeting planned for next Monday on Hate Speech and Social Media Bills pending before the Senate.
The Senate President expressed delight on the debate generated by the two bills, saying that the reaction of Nigerians tells you that there is democracy in Nigeria and that people are listening to what is happening at the National Assembly.
Lawan said; “It is encouraging to hear people expressing their views on these bills. When a member of the National Assembly comes up with a bill, we expect the public to be interested and we will provide the opportunity for the public to come and express their opinions, their views, their support, their objections on the bill.
“So, when these two bills are scheduled for public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to speak about them and preponderance of opinions, views and ideas by the Nigerians will shape the way forward for the bills”.
He appealed to those commenting on the bills to be open minded and eschew sentiment to ensure that the bills are treated on their merits.
According to him; “Hate speech in fact has become a big issue across the world, but in our effort to address it as a menace, we have to look at it in a way and manner that the rights of citizens are not trampled upon or tampered with.
“We cannot close our eyes to undesirable consequences brought about by hate speech and it is for us as a nation to come together and deal with it.”
The Senate President commended the management of AIT for initiating the engagement, saying that it would offer an opportunity to the sponsors of the bills and other senators to provide more clarifications on the contentious areas in the bills.
Earlier, the Chairman of AIT, Mr. Raymond Dokpesi (Jnr.), said the town hall meeting is being organised to provide a platform for stakeholders and other Nigerians to brainstorm on the two bills.
Dokpesi Jnr. said the diverse reactions by Nigerians on the bills, particularly the punitive measures they contained prompted the organisation to come up with the idea to find acceptable common ground.
