A report released by Center for Information and Technology Development (CITAD) shows that politicians are leading in terms of using Hate Speech to favour their political interest, contributing 50% of an online Survey.
According to the report, politicians are followed by youth in spreading Hate Speech, contributing 36% .
While presenting the report at the CITAD headquarters, in Kano, Hamza Ibrahim said they conducted the research with the aim of understanding the role of politicians, religious and community leaders in combating Hate Speech in Nigeria.
He said that the report has generated a number of critical findings with a view to combating Hate Speech in the country.
According him “In Africa we have seen how Hate Speech negatively impacted countries like Kenya and Rwanda, that is why for over 7 years CITAD has been keen in countering any speech considered to be hate.”
The report titled ‘Extinguishing Hate Speech, Role for Politicians and Community Leaders enumerates the roles the politicians, religious and community in combating Hate Speech by ensuring they don’t utter Hate Speech for whatever reason and strongly condemn it regardless of who made it.
It recommended that politicians at all levels should desist from using and promoting Hate Speech, and they should endorse and support campaign to combat it especially using their social media platforms.
The report concluded that religious leaders should prioritize preaching around peace, unity and tolerance in their various activities.