The Sultan
of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar said on Thursday that the traditional
institution was in support of the recent move by the Federal Government to
criminalise
hate speech and fake news.
The Sultan,
who stated this in Abuja at the Annual Lecture Series and 25th Anniversary of
the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), added that hate speech should be
declared as terrorism offence.
He said that
the traditional institution was in support of the recent declaration by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President that “none will be allowed to get
away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence’’.
The monarch
said that the phenomenon of hate speech and fake news had reached an alarming
state and decisive action should be taken by the government.
The monarch
said he was a victim of fake news only on Wednesday when he was misrepresented
at a Nigerian Labour Congress event in Abuja that “he kicked against
Restructuring’’
He clarified
his position at the event that he was only against any restructuring that would
lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.
The monarch
said that he was also shocked by a Television station reports which claimed
that there was “fracas’’ at the same event. “Shortly after the event, many
people were calling me that what was I doing at the event where there was
“fracas’’.
“There was
nothing like fracas at that event as reported by a popular TV station which I
will not named here. “A former comrade governor who was at the event canvassed
a position which did not go down well with the audience and people were
shouting.
“The President
of NLC waded into the situation and the Comrade Governor continued with his
speech. At the end of the speech the former governor was given a loud ovation.
So, how can that, be described as fracas,’’ he said.
The monarch
said he was shocked to see news report on the event with the headline,
“Restructuring, Sultan kicked, Oshiomole booed’’ The monarch said that the
freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution should not be used to
violate other people’s rights.
The Sultan
also decried a recent development where President Muhammadu Buhari’s health
condition was politicised and made to generate hate speeches. He called on
political and religious leaders at all levels to guide their utterances and
condemn hate speeches.
Retired
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head
of State, Gen. Sani Abacha also decried the alarming rate of hate speech. He
said although the phenomenon was not new, government must be decisive in
addressing the trend.
Al-Mustapha
said there was international dimension to sponsorship of hate speech especially
by those who had seen the potential of Nigeria. He said local collaborators
were being recruited as merchants to use fake news to subvert the nation.
Al-Mustapha,
therefore, called on NBC to create synergy with International Intelligence
Community in addressing the challenge. He also called for regulation of the
review of only front pages of newspapers in the television and radio station
programmes.
Al-Mustapha
said that knowing well that the review attracted large follower-ship, sponsors
of hate speech messages will always ensure that their stories are published in
front pages while developmental news are tucked inside the papers.
He charged
the media organisations to wake up to their statutory responsibilities and shun
act that will disintegrate the country.
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