WARRI- The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, yesterday has expressed its opposition to the Hate Speech Bill sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi of Niger State saying that such a bill is not necessary.
National President of the Ijaw youths council (IYC) world-wide Barr, Eric Omare said in a press statement made available to Daily Watch, ‘‘The IYC is of the opinion that while some of the objects of the bill which are aimed at campaigning against discrimination, promotion of hatred, ethnic disharmony are laudable and should by promoted by government; however, it is not necessary for a bill to be passed into law with punitive sanctions which includes death penalty.’’
According to the vocal Ijaw youth leader, ‘‘The death penalty provision has the capacity to be used by a government in power to suppress opposing views especially in a developing country such as Nigeria.
‘‘In a country like Nigeria where politics is played with all sort of bitterness, the Anti-Hate speech law would be used by politicians to suppress their opponent and trampled on the right to freedom of expression and therefore must be discouraged. In our view, what is required is effective campaign and orientation on the negative effect of hate speeches without the necessity of having a law with punitive sanctions. We also opposed the setting up of the Anti-Hate Speech Commission because such a body is not necessary. Whatever function that the commission is expected to perform can be performed by the Federal Ministry of Information and Orientation as well.
‘‘We therefore call on the National Assembly to drop the Anti-Hate Speech Bill and use the already using instruments of government to fight against Hate speech in the country rather than a bill that would be used as instrument of political suppression.’’ He averred.
Signed for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide:
