Senator Shehu Sani has laid his opinion bare concerning a new Hate Speech bill which is sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi of Niger State.
The Kaduna state senator warned that if the bill is passed, many of those who criticize the government on social media might end up locked up. He says the bill might fight against Free Speech and will pave the way for tyranny as political opponents and bloggers will fill up cell rooms.
Shehu Sani adviced those in office who can’t withstand criticism to go back to their family setting where their decisions are always final without anyone to challenge them.
Below is his Facebook post.
“Most people in Power are intolerant to criticism and allergic to dissent to be trusted with a capital punishment for Hate speech.The law against Hate speech will be used against free speech.
Many critics and social media enthusiasts will end up in the gallows.Our condemned cells in the prisons will be filled with bloggers, critics and perceived political opponents.
We must fight Hate speech, Hate speech is a real threat to peace, unity and order of a nation but we must protect free speech.
Free speech is the shield of the oppressed.When you have state police and you have capital punishment for Hate speech, you will have tyranny and terror as a state policy. People in power should think twice about what they do with power as someday they will be out of power.
A democratic state must balance its security exigencies with its constitutional obligations and moral duty to uphold the rule of law and respect fundamental rights of its citizens.If you are in public office and you don’t want to be criticized or challenged, please dismount and go back to your family where you can be an imperial emperor.”
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