FG Calls Fake News, Hate Speech Biggest Threat To 2019 Polls, Seeks
States' Support

The Federal Government has said fake news and hate speech constitute
the biggest threat to the 2019 general election, and appealed to
states to join in the ongoing campaign to sensitize Nigerians to the
dangers posed by the twin evils.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the
assertion in Kaduna on Thursday, during the official opening ceremony
of the 47th National Council on Information (NCI).

''With the 2019 general elections just a little over 60 days away,
there is no issue that is more relevant to the election than the issue
of fake news and hate speech,'' he said. ''This issue transcends
political party lines, religion, ethnicity, and even nationality. Left
unchecked, fake news and hate speech constitute the biggest threat to
the forthcoming elections.''

Alhaji Mohammed said fake news has the capacity to alter the course of
elections and create legitimacy problem for the winner, citing as an
example a report that said fake news helped to depress Hillary
Clinton's votes during the 2016 US election, in addition to tainting
the victory for the winner.

He also said hate speech was a catalyst in the 1994 genocide in
Rwanda, which left at least 800,000 people dead.

The Minister said while the Federal Government has been unrelenting in
calling attention to the dangers posed to the nation's peace, security
and democracy, including through the launch of the National Campaign
Against Fake News on July 11 2018, it cannot do it alone.

''The campaign against fake news and hate speech is not just a
responsibility of the Federal Government. It is for all tiers of
government. Therefore, I expect that the Honorable Commissioners who
are here, and those who are not, will launch the campaign in their
various states.

''The media will bear the brunt, if the people lose confidence in them
because of fake news. This is why the media must lead this campaign,''
he said

Alhaji Mohammed described as 'very fitting and most timely' the theme
of the meeting, which is 'Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to
Enhance Peace and National Unity'.

He urged the participants at the meeting to 'brain storm and evolve
policies' that would comprehensively address the
menace of fake news and hate speech.

Commissioners of Information from about 20 states are among the
participants at the three-day meeting, which was declared open by
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his Special
Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye

Segun Adeyemi
SA To Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Kaduna
13 Dec 2018

PICTURES
PIC 1: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
(middle), in a group photograph with State Commissioners for
Information and other delegates to the 47th National Council on
Information in Kaduna on Thursday

PIC 2: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
delivering a keynote address at the 47th National Council on
Information in Kaduna on Thursday