{"id":44744,"date":"2015-12-09T19:40:55","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T18:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=44744"},"modified":"2015-12-09T19:40:55","modified_gmt":"2015-12-09T18:40:55","slug":"the-nigerian-senate-our-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/articles-opinions\/the-nigerian-senate-our-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nigerian Senate & Our Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 1st<\/sup> October 2015, the intrepid governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, uninvited, announced to the nation that the previous Jonathan government spent some N64 billion on Independence Day celebrations.\u00a0 It turned out that El-Rufai was wildly off the mark; the mallam had greatly massaged the figures.<\/p>\n

Jonathan administration actually spent N333, 600, 000\u00a0over four years on Independence Day festivities.\u00a0 This correct figure was confirmed by the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSGF).\u00a0 How did the truth emerge?\u00a0 A group called BudgIT Nigeria applied to the OSGF under the Freedom of Information Act.<\/p>\n

Well, the Freedom of Information Act is in trouble.\u00a0 So also is the Cyber Law.\u00a0 Just a couple of weeks ago in the Senate, the Senate Leader, one Ali Ndume got up and opined that the Freedom of Information Act as well as freedom of speech \u201cmust be looked into.\u201d<\/p>\n

It got worse.<\/p>\n

Ali Ndume had been contributing to a debate in the Senate to introduce a bill to restrict and punish social media use in Nigeria!\u00a0 I kid you not.\u00a0 Even Afghanistan and Iran have got it better in that regard.<\/p>\n

The current government and its various majority representatives rode into office on the back of a change mantra a lot of which was driven home by (mostly young people on) social media.\u00a0 All of a sudden, now in office, the same people that used and profited handsomely from the social media now find that these tools are abhorrent and negative.\u00a0 It has to be done away with or severely curtailed with associated heavy punishment for infringements as defined by our senators.\u00a0 How\u2019s that for irony?<\/p>\n

Six months in office I can only remember the Senate for three things: a long and unsavoury leadership tussle; protection of their various allowances and entitlements \u2013 including something they called wardrobe allowance; and a very slap-dash ministerial screening exercise.\u00a0 The rest of the time, the distinguished people took prolonged recesses.<\/p>\n

Now they are back, their first job is to restrict social media use.\u00a0 An All Progressives Congress led Senate!\u00a0 It is beyond mind boggling.\u00a0 The anti-people bill is being sponsored by\u00a0Senator Ibn Na\u2019Allah of Kebbi State.\u00a0 The most noteworthy thing about Na\u2019Allah, a lawyer and a former car dealer, is that he reportedly bought a plane in 2009 and claimed that it was cheaper for him to maintain his aircraft than to maintain some cars in his garage. \u00a0Ali Ndume\u2019s grouse was that a while ago, he was accused of providing Boko Haram with some golf buggies.\u00a0 Senator Malaye was particularly bitter about Saharareporters.\u00a0 Also, there was a picture of a champagne bottle adorned with the senator\u2019s face suitable flanked by the Senate\u2019s mace that recently made the rounds on social media.\u00a0 Dino didn\u2019t like that.<\/p>\n

Keeping the details of their bill from some of the more serious-minded Senators, this group presented their Anti-Social Media Bill on the floor of the Senate.\u00a0 Amazingly, in just fourteen days, their bill got its second reading.\u00a0 Of course Senator Malaye led the debate.\u00a0 Dino used to be an Activist of sorts in this Nigeria.\u00a0 He was promptly supported by various others; most notably Ali Ndume and one elderly looking People Democratic Party female Senator from Ekiti State.\u00a0 Ekiti is supposed to be the home of well learned folks.\u00a0 Anyway, after their very negatively-charged debate, their self induced hysteria and contrived indignation, the Senate President, Saraki, referred the whole matter to a Senate Committee to work out the fine details.<\/p>\n

This is what the sponsors of the Bill want:<\/p>\n