Well, the sponsors of this "hate-speech" bill face a huge credibility and political legitimacy challenge. First, we have a federal government which demonstrably does not respect the rule of law, a government that treats the Nigerian judiciary with barely disguised disdain, a government that recently quickly complied with a court order issued by a court of its former colonial power (even though Nigeria is supposed to be a sovereign nation) but openly picks and chooses which Nigerian court orders to obey. A news report claimed recently that Buhari's Presidency has disobeyed 40 court orders. His ordinarily loquacious presidential spokespersons did not even bother to respond to it. This is symbolic and symptomatic of its unbridled level of arrogance, but empty arrogance for that matter: arrogance based on mere control of rag-tag instruments of coercion and not on a demonstrated capacity for effective governance. "We are in-charge, we control the army, the navy, the air-force, and the police, and so, we can do as we please," appears to be the operational guidepost of this lawless government. "We can trample upon anyone anywhere with impunity!" "We are the law!" "We are even the constitution!" "The law is what we say it is, and the constitution is what we say it is." "To heal with your abracadabra about the rule of law!"
The conundrum that all this raises is as follows: given that Nigeria is saddled with a government that practically shows itself to be above the law and answerable to itself, does this same government deserve to be entrusted with additional state powers over life and death issues or even over any aspect of the lives of the people of Nigeria? Given its own record, this is a lawless government that cannot be trusted!
--Hate Speech bill impressive –US
Published December 3, 2019KINDLY SHARE THIS STORYDeputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; with Political Officer at the Embassy of the United States of America, Jerry Howard, during a meeting with the Senator on the Hate Speech bill at the National Assembly on Tuesday
- Says media reports on legislation misleading, hysterical
- Says bill will address discrimination, hostility in Nigeria
- Wants NASS to engage NGOs, CSOs
Political Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, Jerry Howard, on Tuesday, reportedly described the Hate Speech Bill before the National Assembly as an "impressive" piece of legislation needed to address issues of discrimination, hostility and violence in Nigeria.
According to a statement released by the Media Office of Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, and signed by Oluyinka Akintunde, Howard stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and sponsor of the Hate Speech bill, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, at the National Assembly, Abuja.
According to the United States Embassy official, the visit was intended to engage Sabi Abdullahi and to seek an understanding of the proposed legislation under consideration by the Senate.
Following explanations by Senator Abdullahi on the bill, Mr. Howard described the response of the media as "misleading" and "hysterical," compared to what it actually seeks to achieve.
He, therefore, advised the sponsor of the bill to engage and educate non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations in the country on its proposed contents so as to muster support for it.
Speaking on the decision of the US Embassy to engage the National Assembly on the Hate Speech bill, Howard said, "We want Nigeria to succeed and we think a prerequisite for Nigeria's success is successful democracy.
"For democracy to succeed, the people must have a house, the people must have a place where their representatives can argue and complain, come up with new ideas and come up with solutions to guide the executive branch and lead the country forward."
He commended the lawmaker for the level of work and research carried out on the bill.
"I'm very impressed with the research you've done on the bill. The media has had a field day with this, really.
"You've thought it through. I was depending on the media for my education, and it was very misleading. You've done your research and it is very interesting.
"But you have a difficult job selling this to the NGOs, CSOs. You need to talk to them. You'll need to talk to civil society organisations, you need to educate them.
"You've educated me," Howard said after Senator Abdullahi explained the contents of the bill to him.
Earlier, speaking on why he decided to introduce the bill, the lawmaker said, "Part of the reasons why violence takes place is attributable to discriminatory practices.
"It is discrimination that creates the socio-political imbalance that you see leading to a group feeling shortchanged and marginalised.
"Discrimination is also another very serious matter why I sponsored the bill. This bill basically is about preventing discrimination, and prohibiting people who incite violence," he explained.
Abdullahi further stated that the bill's introduction by the National Assembly has the backing of Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The Section states: "Nothing in Sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society; in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom or other persons."
On measures in place to ensure that the bill is not abused by politicians, Senator Abdullahi explained that "an Independent Commission shall be constituted and whose membership will be restricted to persons without any history of promoting ethnic or religious causes, or anyone with political affiliations."
He added that the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly into law will address all forms of discrimination, hostility and violence which are on the rise in the country.
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Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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