‘Death Penalty Will Be Amended’, Sponsor Of Hate Speech Bill Assures Nigerians

Aliyu Abdullahi, sponsor of the bill seeking to check hate
speech, says the death penalty aspect will be amended in line with
the wish of Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Abdullahi said the
bill will undergo some fine-tuning to reflect the views of
Nigerians.

He added that the senate will accept contributions and input by
critics and supporters of the bill, saying such will go a long way
in giving Nigerians the law to address the “disturbing trend” of
hate speech.

Section 4 (2) of the bill provides that any person found guilty
of hate speech shall be liable to life imprisonment and where the
act causes any loss of life, the person shall be punished through
death by hanging.

Civil society groups and human rights activists have rejected
the bill, describing it as an attempt to suppress the people and
stifle freedom of speech.

But Abdullahi said hate speech has led to the death of many and
is a major factor behind depression and suicide in Nigeria.

“We have followed closely arguments for and against the hate
speech bill, and seen the reason why some kicked against it. Given
the high respect which we have for Nigerians, we will make
amendment to the death penalty aspect that most Nigerians objected
to, so that a bill that meets their expectations is passed into
law,” he said.

“Clearly from the conversations, Nigerians agree that we have a
problem in the society today as a result of hate speech which has
fueled so many killings and violence, and is responsible for cases
of depression and suicides.”

Citing a World Health Organisation report, Abdullahi said
Nigeria which is the seventh-largest country in the world “has
Africa’s highest rate of depression and ranks fifth in the world
frequency of suicide.”

The lawmaker added that the Independent National Commission for
the Prohibition of Hate Speech to be established will guard against
every act of discrimination against Nigerians by way of
victimisation.

The commission, according to Abdullahi, will have an executive
chairperson, a secretary and 12 commissioners appointed through
rigorous process involving the national council of state, the
president and the national assembly.

“The bill provides that those qualified to be appointed as
members of the commission must not be: members of the national
assembly or any government in authority at the local, state or
federal levels,” he said.

The lawmaker added that any person, who is a member of any
political party or known to be affiliated with partisan politics,
or has promoted sectional, ethnic, religious causes or openly
advocated partisan ethnic positions or interest, stands
disqualified from being appointed to serve on the commission.

“The overall concern is to curb violence and unnecessary loss of
lives and livelihoods of Nigerians due to hate-induced violence,”
Abdullahi said.

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