Good day Nigerians, Good day Africans and a warm greeting to the entire world. It is always a pleasure to share my thoughts with you especially when it borders on matters that involve the country I so deeply love and believe in Nigeria.
I want to appreciate the huge readership that went into my last work "SHOULD OUR LAWS AS A SUBJECT NOT RATHER BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS" which calls on the government to educate the citizens on their laws from their Primary school to the first year in the university to ensure that everyone knows the reward for keeping the laws and the consequences for breaking them. In my view this will help reduce crimes and corruption that the government of the day is so keen and committed to fighting.
My previous topic is not far or unrelated to the recent declaration as an act of terrorism the use of Hate Speech by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo while playing the Acting President role. He stated that the current administration has drawn a line against hate speech and added that such speeches will not be tolerated and therefore would be treated as terrorism and all of THE CONSEQUENCES WILL FOLLOW.
Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo
The statement from the revered law professor has attracted both support and criticism from legal practitioners, human right activists, opposition parties and citizens.
My Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos based human rights lawyer has described the Nigerian government's classification of Hate Speech as a plot to gag the citizens. He further describes as illegal and unconstitutional any law that is capable of hindering the freedom of speech granted under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and African Charter.
Another person to vent his disapproval of the Vice President's declaration was the outspoken and eloquent governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose who stated that if the National Assembly passes into law any bill seeking to gag citizens, it will run counter to Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution which has declared the constitution to be the Supreme law.
Okoli Ezenwa, An Abuja based legal practitioner has equally towed behind Adegboruwa and Fayose to say he doesn't believe that hate speech should be tantamount to terrorism but he gave a little support to the government that it should be treated as treason instead.
Others have disagreed with Adegboruwa's statement where he said hate speech is not mentioned in the constitution but many who did so, didn't point categorically to where it was stated in the constitution.
The legal practitioners even with their various views of the matter still believe that a mere pronunciation by the government should not criminalise an action without a legislation, hence the need to tinker an existing law.
Hate speech as I have come to know are statements that could engender racial, tribal, ethnic, national and international unrest. It is absolutely not something that should be condoned by any nation whose peace and unity are of paramount importance. In the past and present times, such speeches or statements have degenerated into tribal, racial, ethnic, religious and national crisis costing the innocent lives of people. To this end it is necessary for steps to be taken to curb such aggressive and violent arousing remarks. And for that singular reason, I and a good number of well meaning Nigerians are and will continue to support a move to end it BUT a DIPLOMATIC and DEMOCRATIC style approach to ending it.
Where Democracy is totally different and preferred to Autocracy or Dictatorship is where people are allowed the freedom to lawfully air their views or as stated by the constitution "express themselves" and where such expression goes too far, a due process approach should be followed to amend the constitution to regulate such expression in the interest of national unity and peace.
Self expression comes in various packages such as music where the popular Afro Beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti pitched his tent and used his self styled music pattern to challenge the corruption and oppression of the military regime for whose part contribution we enjoy the current freedom we now have. Others like the popular Chinua Achebe of blessed memory, Our Noble Laureate winner Wole Soyinka and the proud-to-be-ours Orange Broadband Literature Prize winner and renowned feminist Chimamanda Adichie expressed their freedom through the rolling of the balls of their pens.
Many have closed down streets in peaceful protests of government policies that do not favour the masses. All these because there is freedom to express ourselves.
The reason we might need to ease our words on calling hate speech terrorism is the unargued reality that when people are frustrated, oppressed and pushed to the wall, their verbal utterances are a normal function of the pains and sufferings they have been subjected to and such a man or woman will be unfairly judged to be named or treated as a terrorist. And we must also admit and get used to the fact that in a civilized world that we have become a strong member in, agitations are normal and not criminal by both local and international laws and as such we must thread with caution in addressing such issues so that we do not get enmeshed in problems that would divide us more than unite us.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump has received more than what we'd call mere criticism to what passes perfectly as insults but yet he keeps his eyes on his agenda and finds a way to communicate his own part of the story to the American people. His strict policies has attracted all forms of aggression, agitations and protest especially one that became popular by the name Charlottesville protest, trending on social media and news agencies worldwide. With all these going on in the most powerful country on earth today, He (Donald Trump) has not drawn any known line that stops or restrict the citizens civil or human rights.
We must never forget that as parents our children ask for more than we are willing to give at a certain time and when we refuse in their own interest some even take such refusals personal, but as parents with love in our hearts, we have to reconcile them back to us and give them reasons we refused what they asked. We do not by that mere act disown them and separate our path from theirs because as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water and this also is true for us as a nation who claim to be one. We must treat each other as people born of the same parents and carrying one blood. Every person, no matter their ethnic group must have equal right at expressing themselves without any form of intimidation or oppression, only then are we correct to describe ourselves as ONE NIGERIA.
On Channels News, a Nigerian News Agency, a military chief said in an interview that the military were scouting social media in search of hate speech.
No, this shouldn't be so! No, it shouldn't! This is a civilian rule, there should be Anti-Cyber Crime Agencies to do that or betterstill Cyber Campaigns should be set up not to arrest or intimidate innocent or ignorant people, but to enlighten and educate them on the impacts and effects of such speeches. Diplomacy still works!
As an ardent advocate of education, it is my believe that we can succeed better by teaching our children and all citizens with love that patriotism is expressing love for one's another and advocating for the continued unity of that country, in our case that country is Nigeria. We must encourage more and more freedom of expressions of persons so that we can address their issues and become better people and a true giant of Africa.
To restrict people from speaking their minds freely without eye service and minscing words is the worse thing that can happen to a nation that genuinely wants to grow, because it is with such free speeches that government can swiftly move to address or meet the needs of communities emitting those hard truth and the information such speeches come with can even help brace up our security, which is why Security is also called Intelligence.
We must know that the greatest gift democracy has given to humanity is this singular "Freedom of Speech", the world has become a better place to live in for it than without it. It has become secured, free, richer, greater, united and developed if we see it in the positive light. But as it is true that whatever have advantages equally have disadvantages, many have used words carelessly for personal or political gains, those elements should now be the residues we must filter out and duely punish according to the law for such criminal acts so as to preserve our democracy that many good men and women worked hard to achieve for us.
It is not new for citizens to ask for more from the people they elected to represent them the world over. Gagging people is far worse that allowing them the freedom to speak their minds because a man who cannot talk has only one way of expressing himself and that is by action but a man who talks, gives reasons before acting. Now who is more risky!
Government must see Free Speech not as Hate Speech but a call by the citizens on them to sit up and serve them better, which was the primary reason for voting them into power. Citizens must be encouraged to air out their frustrations while we continue to encourage them not to use aggressive and divisive statements but not by forcing them to remain silent or use selected words that do not completely convey their dissatisfaction, disaproval and frustration at matters that require public criticism or outburst because if we do, it will make us an eye service country more than a sincere country as we are known for and the respected place we currently hold in Africa as the nation with a democracy that is a role model to other African nations would be destroyed.
Instead of the military scouting social media and looking for anti government and anti military speeches, the government can promote and honour citizens whose social media post advocate national unity, so as to encourage others to emulate such act. This might not be a huge sum of hard currencies, it could be a simple Twitter Mention, Retweet, Like or a comment on such tweets or writeups by The Government of the Federation verified accounts just to show recognition and endorsement. Many would be encouraged and even motivated by that simple act of acknowledgement by the apex office.
Aside this, government can also promote and sponsor NGOs that promote national unity and peace. This will help proliferate the message of love across every nuke and cranny of our country and our children will grow up to know Nigeria more than their tribes.
It should not be heard that in this beautiful democratic era, we the Lion of Africa gag her intelligent citizens hence hindering them from continually contributing their quota or suggestions in helping the nation grow. We must listen attentively to the agitations of agitating groups among us and move swiftly to look into their matters where there is a genuine and non political reason to arouse such agitations.
In our democracy that have received great international commendations especially having a president who conceded defeat and willingly handed over power, Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we must be fast to use diplomacy but very slow to use force so that we will not destroy with our own hands what our heroes past fought with their blood to preserve.
For talks and public speaking engagement, please contact Victor Abia on +2347082363694 or email victorcosmas2003@gmail.com and follow me on twitter @Victorcosmas and also subscribe to my YouTube channel which goes by the handle Victor Cosmas.
Remember a better Nigeria is a better you.
God bless Nigeria, Africa and the world.
I want to appreciate the huge readership that went into my last work "SHOULD OUR LAWS AS A SUBJECT NOT RATHER BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS" which calls on the government to educate the citizens on their laws from their Primary school to the first year in the university to ensure that everyone knows the reward for keeping the laws and the consequences for breaking them. In my view this will help reduce crimes and corruption that the government of the day is so keen and committed to fighting.
My previous topic is not far or unrelated to the recent declaration as an act of terrorism the use of Hate Speech by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo while playing the Acting President role. He stated that the current administration has drawn a line against hate speech and added that such speeches will not be tolerated and therefore would be treated as terrorism and all of THE CONSEQUENCES WILL FOLLOW.
The statement from the revered law professor has attracted both support and criticism from legal practitioners, human right activists, opposition parties and citizens.
My Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Lagos based human rights lawyer has described the Nigerian government's classification of Hate Speech as a plot to gag the citizens. He further describes as illegal and unconstitutional any law that is capable of hindering the freedom of speech granted under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and African Charter.
Another person to vent his disapproval of the Vice President's declaration was the outspoken and eloquent governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose who stated that if the National Assembly passes into law any bill seeking to gag citizens, it will run counter to Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution which has declared the constitution to be the Supreme law.
Okoli Ezenwa, An Abuja based legal practitioner has equally towed behind Adegboruwa and Fayose to say he doesn't believe that hate speech should be tantamount to terrorism but he gave a little support to the government that it should be treated as treason instead.
Others have disagreed with Adegboruwa's statement where he said hate speech is not mentioned in the constitution but many who did so, didn't point categorically to where it was stated in the constitution.
The legal practitioners even with their various views of the matter still believe that a mere pronunciation by the government should not criminalise an action without a legislation, hence the need to tinker an existing law.
Hate speech as I have come to know are statements that could engender racial, tribal, ethnic, national and international unrest. It is absolutely not something that should be condoned by any nation whose peace and unity are of paramount importance. In the past and present times, such speeches or statements have degenerated into tribal, racial, ethnic, religious and national crisis costing the innocent lives of people. To this end it is necessary for steps to be taken to curb such aggressive and violent arousing remarks. And for that singular reason, I and a good number of well meaning Nigerians are and will continue to support a move to end it BUT a DIPLOMATIC and DEMOCRATIC style approach to ending it.
Where Democracy is totally different and preferred to Autocracy or Dictatorship is where people are allowed the freedom to lawfully air their views or as stated by the constitution "express themselves" and where such expression goes too far, a due process approach should be followed to amend the constitution to regulate such expression in the interest of national unity and peace.
Self expression comes in various packages such as music where the popular Afro Beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti pitched his tent and used his self styled music pattern to challenge the corruption and oppression of the military regime for whose part contribution we enjoy the current freedom we now have. Others like the popular Chinua Achebe of blessed memory, Our Noble Laureate winner Wole Soyinka and the proud-to-be-ours Orange Broadband Literature Prize winner and renowned feminist Chimamanda Adichie expressed their freedom through the rolling of the balls of their pens.
Many have closed down streets in peaceful protests of government policies that do not favour the masses. All these because there is freedom to express ourselves.
The reason we might need to ease our words on calling hate speech terrorism is the unargued reality that when people are frustrated, oppressed and pushed to the wall, their verbal utterances are a normal function of the pains and sufferings they have been subjected to and such a man or woman will be unfairly judged to be named or treated as a terrorist. And we must also admit and get used to the fact that in a civilized world that we have become a strong member in, agitations are normal and not criminal by both local and international laws and as such we must thread with caution in addressing such issues so that we do not get enmeshed in problems that would divide us more than unite us.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump has received more than what we'd call mere criticism to what passes perfectly as insults but yet he keeps his eyes on his agenda and finds a way to communicate his own part of the story to the American people. His strict policies has attracted all forms of aggression, agitations and protest especially one that became popular by the name Charlottesville protest, trending on social media and news agencies worldwide. With all these going on in the most powerful country on earth today, He (Donald Trump) has not drawn any known line that stops or restrict the citizens civil or human rights.
We must never forget that as parents our children ask for more than we are willing to give at a certain time and when we refuse in their own interest some even take such refusals personal, but as parents with love in our hearts, we have to reconcile them back to us and give them reasons we refused what they asked. We do not by that mere act disown them and separate our path from theirs because as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water and this also is true for us as a nation who claim to be one. We must treat each other as people born of the same parents and carrying one blood. Every person, no matter their ethnic group must have equal right at expressing themselves without any form of intimidation or oppression, only then are we correct to describe ourselves as ONE NIGERIA.
On Channels News, a Nigerian News Agency, a military chief said in an interview that the military were scouting social media in search of hate speech.
No, this shouldn't be so! No, it shouldn't! This is a civilian rule, there should be Anti-Cyber Crime Agencies to do that or betterstill Cyber Campaigns should be set up not to arrest or intimidate innocent or ignorant people, but to enlighten and educate them on the impacts and effects of such speeches. Diplomacy still works!
As an ardent advocate of education, it is my believe that we can succeed better by teaching our children and all citizens with love that patriotism is expressing love for one's another and advocating for the continued unity of that country, in our case that country is Nigeria. We must encourage more and more freedom of expressions of persons so that we can address their issues and become better people and a true giant of Africa.
To restrict people from speaking their minds freely without eye service and minscing words is the worse thing that can happen to a nation that genuinely wants to grow, because it is with such free speeches that government can swiftly move to address or meet the needs of communities emitting those hard truth and the information such speeches come with can even help brace up our security, which is why Security is also called Intelligence.
We must know that the greatest gift democracy has given to humanity is this singular "Freedom of Speech", the world has become a better place to live in for it than without it. It has become secured, free, richer, greater, united and developed if we see it in the positive light. But as it is true that whatever have advantages equally have disadvantages, many have used words carelessly for personal or political gains, those elements should now be the residues we must filter out and duely punish according to the law for such criminal acts so as to preserve our democracy that many good men and women worked hard to achieve for us.
It is not new for citizens to ask for more from the people they elected to represent them the world over. Gagging people is far worse that allowing them the freedom to speak their minds because a man who cannot talk has only one way of expressing himself and that is by action but a man who talks, gives reasons before acting. Now who is more risky!
Government must see Free Speech not as Hate Speech but a call by the citizens on them to sit up and serve them better, which was the primary reason for voting them into power. Citizens must be encouraged to air out their frustrations while we continue to encourage them not to use aggressive and divisive statements but not by forcing them to remain silent or use selected words that do not completely convey their dissatisfaction, disaproval and frustration at matters that require public criticism or outburst because if we do, it will make us an eye service country more than a sincere country as we are known for and the respected place we currently hold in Africa as the nation with a democracy that is a role model to other African nations would be destroyed.
Instead of the military scouting social media and looking for anti government and anti military speeches, the government can promote and honour citizens whose social media post advocate national unity, so as to encourage others to emulate such act. This might not be a huge sum of hard currencies, it could be a simple Twitter Mention, Retweet, Like or a comment on such tweets or writeups by The Government of the Federation verified accounts just to show recognition and endorsement. Many would be encouraged and even motivated by that simple act of acknowledgement by the apex office.
Aside this, government can also promote and sponsor NGOs that promote national unity and peace. This will help proliferate the message of love across every nuke and cranny of our country and our children will grow up to know Nigeria more than their tribes.
It should not be heard that in this beautiful democratic era, we the Lion of Africa gag her intelligent citizens hence hindering them from continually contributing their quota or suggestions in helping the nation grow. We must listen attentively to the agitations of agitating groups among us and move swiftly to look into their matters where there is a genuine and non political reason to arouse such agitations.
In our democracy that have received great international commendations especially having a president who conceded defeat and willingly handed over power, Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we must be fast to use diplomacy but very slow to use force so that we will not destroy with our own hands what our heroes past fought with their blood to preserve.
For talks and public speaking engagement, please contact Victor Abia on +2347082363694 or email victorcosmas2003@gmail.com and follow me on twitter @Victorcosmas and also subscribe to my YouTube channel which goes by the handle Victor Cosmas.
Remember a better Nigeria is a better you.
God bless Nigeria, Africa and the world.
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