Hate speech, fake news threaten Nigeria’s unity, but death penalty too extreme says Momoh

Widespread condemnations have continued to trail the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill, and the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation and Other Related Offences Bill, currently before the National Assembly.

But a worried former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh as said that any serious Nigerian must be concerned about the dimension that fake news, hate speeches and unguarded social media activities are taking, and their possible consequences on the country’s corporate existence.

He also dismissed insinuations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and or the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari were the brains behind the controversial bills, with the main aim of suppressing press freedom and freedom of expression, after the massive media support, which enabled it to wrest power from the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015.

He tasked media professionals to ensure that charlatans do not soil the integrity of their profession, stressing that the development poses serious challenges to the integrity of the media and its professionals.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian Momoh said: “It is unfair to assume that APC and, or President Buhari is the brains behind the bills. They are privately sponsored bills that have nothing to do with either the party or the government.

When asked why the ruling party is now frowning at activities of bloggers and the so-called hate speeches when it allegedly benefited from such in the past, Momoh retorted

The APC chieftain said he has always been in support of a free press as far as it is based on facts and figures. “It is the duty of the media to serve as the watchdog of any government, and to also expose whatever the government is doing that is against the interest of the citizens, as long as there are facts to back the story. My position is that the media should also go-ahead to publish the facts and damn the consequences. Many countries have been dragged into war because of fake news.

On preparation for the 2023 presidential election, the APC’s stalwart disagreed that plans for yet another presidential election barely seven months into Buhari’s second term is capable of distracting the government from performing.

On the feud between the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki ahead of the 2020 Guber race, Momoh said there was nothing extraordinary and unresolvable about it.

The former minister, however, disclosed that he had forewarned the 14 lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant in the Edo State Assembly about the danger inherent in staying outside the Assembly to fight.

Momoh, who said the crisis could cost the party the state, alleged that the opposition “PDP in Edo is not also on ground to take advantage of anything. This is my respite.” TheGuardianng