Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to a bill introduced to the Senate which will criminalize hate speech with offenders liable to face life imprisonment or death penalty.
The bill which is sponsored by Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, has passed its first reading.
Reacting to the bill, Atiku stated that it will violate Nigeria’s constitutional right to freedom of speech.
A statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, sees Atiku advising the government to avoid working against the tolerance built over the years.
He said , “Atiku wishes to sound a note of caution to those now toying with the idea of an anti – hate Speech Bill , with punishment for supposed hate speech to be death by hanging . The contemplation of such laws is in itself not just hate speech , but an abuse of the legislative process that will violate Nigerians ’ constitutionally guaranteed right to Freedom of Speech”.
