Law Against Hate Speech Must Not Impede On Free Speech - APC Senator Warns | CNR

Senator Shehu Sani, (APC-Kaduna Central) has warned sponsors and promoters of Law Against Hate Speech to ensure that its implementation would not interfere with citizens inalienable right to freedom of speech.

Senator Sani said that since most people in power are intolerant to criticism and allergic to dissent views, it would be dangerous to trust them with a capital punishment for Hate Speech.

While arguing that law against hate speech would inevitably amount to an impediment to free speech, Senator Sani maintained that any effort to tackle hate speech is welcomed only if it would not lead to filling our prisons with critics, bloggers, and perceived political opponents.

READ ALSO: Life Was Better For Nigerians With Jonathan's Fuel Subsidy And Corruption Than Under Our Change And Anti-Corruption - APC Senator

He said: "Most people in Power are intolerant to criticism and allergic to dissent to be trusted with a capital punishment for Hate speech. The law against Hate speech will be used against free speech.

"Many critics and social media enthusiasts will end up in the gallows. Our condemned cells in the prisons will be filled with bloggers,critics and perceived political opponents. We must fight Hate speech,Hate speech is a real threat to peace,unity and order of a nation but we must protect free speech.

He warned also that the proposed Law Against Hate Speech, when implemented with the proposed state police in place, would lead to reign of state-sponsored terror and tyranny.

READ ALSO: Killings: Shehu Sani Mocks Pres Buhari, Lists Seven Things Government Do After Each Killings

"Free speech is the shield of the oppressed. When you have state police and you have capital punishment for Hate speech, you will have tyranny and terror as a state policy.

"People in power should think twice about what they do with power as someday they will be out of power.

"A democratic state must balance its security exigencies with its constitutional obligations and moral duty to uphold the rule of law and respect fundamental rights of its citizens.

"If you are in public office and you don’t want to be criticized or challenged, please dismount and go back to your family where you can be an imperial emperor", Mr. Sehu Sani suggested.

READ ALSO: Nigerians Are "Senseless" and "Stupid" For Criticising Pres. Buhari's Appointment Of Dead Men Into Government Boards - Sagay

A bill prescribing death by hanging for any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another recently received the first reading at the Senate.

The bill, sponsored by the Senate spokesperson, Sani Abdullahi (APC-Niger), seeks the establishment of Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches.