upper chambers of the National Assembly, to reject and throw out any
bill, aimed at gagging the freedom of speech of the citizens.
ADP said it was not in the best interest of Nigerians, that the minister
for information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was calling for the
regulation of the social media. We wont fold our arms and watch Nigeria
descend into a state of totalitarian or despotism.
The party, faulted the promoter of the bill on the floor of the Senate,
that it is an anti-peolle bill, which will not end well. If the
government officials are clean and have nothing to hide, they should not
be afraid of the social media.
It is even more absurd, that a Senator, who was voted in by the people,
can stand up on the floor of the Senate, to propose death by hanging for
citizens, for expressing themselves, which the government sees as hate
speeches.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Prince Adelaja Adeoye in Abuja on Tuesday, he warned that if care is not
taking, some overzealous Senators will drive Nigeria into chaotic
situations, in their bid to impress the President at all cost, without
minding the implications of doing so, because, such move, may lead to
citizens rejection and protest against anti-people’s bills, such as
social media regulation.
The National Assembly, as an arm of the government, must not project
itself as a rubber stamp to the executive, where every bill is passed
without considering the far reaching effects on the citizens.
ADP noted that, freedom of speech, includes how people express
themselves on the social media, which is enshrined in the constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigeria still operates
constitutional democracy, which allows people the freedom to be
themselves, without any hindrance from their elected leaders.
Chapter two, section 13-24 of the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State
Policy and chapter four, section 38 quoted “Every person shall be
entitled to freedom of thought and conscience.
In as much as we don’t want social media platforms to be regulated, we
also urge our citizens to verify the kinds of information they will be
putting out, to ensure that, they are not injurious, libellous or can
cause threat to the life of another person.
ADP urged the Federal government to face the business of governance,
which is the main reasons they were elected, stressed further that, bill
to regulate social media platforms will be counter productive in the
end.
The Federal government should start the sanitation from its members of
aides, who deliberately put out fake information, in their bid to
hoodwink citizens. There are occasions, where aides deliberately put out
pictures and videos of non-existed projects, in order to promote their
principals, this is also a negative use of social media.
ADP urge both the executive and legislative arm to drop the proposal to
regulate social media, because it will expose citizens to incessant
attack, arrest and undue detention by the power mongers, who will abuse
the process.