Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly, in a town hall meeting on Friday, was reported to have said Hate Speeches and Quit Notices from one ethnic group to another are injurious to the health of Nigeria as a Nation and capable of damaging the gains of its diversity.
The meeting themed ‘Embracing our Complexity and Diversity’ was held with her constituents at Arcade Hall, Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos.
The Senator commended the Arewa Consultative Forum for prevailing on the youths to withdraw the earlier Quit Notice given Igbos in the North.
“I appeal to others to follow suit and take back any statements capable of leading to hostilities and apprehension”
Meanwhile, a coalition of Nigerian youth groups announced plans to hold rallies across the country next month.
The rally will be staged against domination, secession and Hate Speeches, in order to ensure the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians.
“We have decided to act against Hate Speeches, toxic agitations and lame criticisms by offering viable alternatives through dialogue and patriotic actions that bind us together as a nation”
Its’ Conveners, Olajide Adekanye and Ibrahim Bello, under the umbrella of “I am for one Nigeria” initiative, said the event would start with a major rally in Abuja on October 1, 2017.
“We are not unaware that the earlier threats of quit notice was to commence on that day. These have affected the sanctity of that day, hence our intervention to change the narrative of our great nation”.
However, many others have talked about the effect of Hate Speech in Nigeria, but have been accused of not giving a clear description of Hate Speech and what it entails.
However, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo had in August defined Hate Speech when he said
“The government has drawn a line on Hate Speeches; it will not be tolerated, it will be taken as an act of terrorism and all of the consequences will follow it”
“Hate Speech is a specie of terrorism. Terrorism as it is defined popularly is the unlawful use of violence or intimidation against individuals or groups especially for political ends”
“Terrorism is an act deliberately done with malice which may seriously harm a country or is intended or can be reasonably regarded as having been done to seriously intimidate a population”
Nigeria has witnessed debate over Hate Speech and Hate Speech laws and critics have argued that the term is used to silent critics of social policies that have been poorly implemented.
Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.), last month said that
“a draft bill to the Ministry of Justice on Hate Speech which will go as an executive bill after passing through the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to the National Assembly”
Among the demands of United Labour Congress (ULC) is that the Federal Government discontinue the proposed bill at the National Assembly, which the Union feels seeks to control free speech under the guise of bill against Hate Speech.
Hate Speech according to International Encyclopedia of Communication is described as a speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it incites violence or prejudicial action against a protected group, or individual on the basis of their membership of the group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected group, or individual on the basis of their membership of the group.
However, a fine line exists between the divergence of opinion and Hate Speech. The Government should not misinterpret disagreement with its official position as being synonymous with hate.
