Saraki, APC-led senate, hell-bent on “stupid, misunderstood” social media bill
By Rotimi Akinola
Nigerian senators, most of them members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that rode to power on the promise of “change,” said they will not back down from passing a bill to curtail free speech.
Senator Ibn Bala Na’Allah, a member of the APC representing Kebbi South, was initially singled out for criticisms after Nigerians learned he sponsored the “Bill to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions.”
The bill will jail anyone who makes a “false” allegation against individuals, government officials, or institutions…for two years. The alternative to prison is a hefty N2 million fine.
The bill passed its second reading on the floor of the Senate last Wednesday. That didn’t go down without a vocal #NoToSocialMediaBill from Nigerians on Twitter.
Former education minister and Bring Back Our Girls Group advocated, Obiageli Ezekwesili was one of the many prominent Nigerians who told the senators they’re bunch of clowns for wasting tax payers’ (actually crude oil) money on such anti-people debate.
Apprehensions are now rife the bill may be an elaborate plan by Senate President Bukola Saraki and some of his loyal APC senators to infringe on the constitutional, and fundamental, right of every Nigerian to free speech.
Another proponent of the bill is Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi) who actually called on Barack Obama, the leader of the free world, to help sanction pro-Nigerian media located in the United States. Of course, the American media will have their government for dinner if they listen to Melaye.
The ant-social-media bill has been likened to Decree No. 4 President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC decreed as a military dictator in the 1980s. The decree effectively mitigated free speech and landed vocal government critics in jail.
The current anti-social-media bill came to light days after information and culture minister Lai Mohammed told online publishers at a meeting in Lagos “Buhari will not stifle free speech.” It remains unclear if Saraki and Buhari are together on this one.
The bill cannot take effect, even if passed by the Senate, if Buhari does not sign it into law. The senators will have to go through individual state assemblies to override Buhari’s veto – that would be a hell of a journey.
Saraki said the bill is necessary because “people must be held responsible for their action.”
But the overwhelming majority of Nigerians who practically enthroned the APC-led federal government with the power of the social media say Saraki’s sentiments are stories for the gods.
Many say the bill is a desperate, yet stupid, move by senators who are simply afraid of the power Nigerians wield via social media to arrest free speech – a fundamental human right.
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) urged the Senate to retrace its steps so as not to deny Nigerians of their universally recognised right to freedom of expression.
“Having benefitted from a vibrant media, it is worrisome that the lawmakers have turned around to debate a law which seeks to punish users of online media platforms,” GOCOP said in a statement.
“The National Assembly should not shackle the very media for which our present democracy owes it survival,” the statement read.
It’s not the first time a member of the APC will try to censor the social media. Senator Gbenga Kaka (APC Ogun State) unsuccessfully pushed a similar bill in 2013. Nigerians wonder why APC figures – figures from a ruling party which has been accused of plotting to perpetually silence critics – are hell bent on curbing free speech.
The current bill was first introduced and debated in the Senate on November 24. It passed its second reading on December 2, the same day former President Goodluck Jonathan joined Twitter.
Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had labelled social media critics “online thugs.” The PDP was, courtesy of these “thugs,” later thrown out of Aso Rock.
Nigerians say the Senate proposed the current bill because it is afraid of the power Nigerians wield on social media.
Saraki said opponents of the bill can make inputs to shape the final documents but Nigerians will have none of it.
Social media activities say they will protest at the Senate on Tuesday.
Meanwhile…
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also reported the senators to the United Nations.
“SERAP is concerned that rather than increasing universal and inclusive access to the Internet for all Nigerians, the National Assembly of Nigeria is working to undermine access of citizens to the Internet,” the initiative said in an appeal to Mr. David Kaye, UN’s Special Rapporteur on these kind of issues..
