The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said on Sunday that the death penalty for hate speech offenders will be amended to respect Nigerians’ wishes. The controversial bill has proposed death penalty for anyone found culpable of Hate Speech that leads to death of another.

Abdullahi, who sponsored the Bill made the this known in a statement in Abuja. Abdullahi said the bill will undergo some fine-tuning to ensure that the clauses contained in its provisions to be passed into law reflect the views of Nigerians. He added that the Senate welcomes contributions and inputs by critics and supporters of the bill, as these would go a long way towards giving Nigerians the much awaited law to address the disturbing trend of hate speech.

According to him, the Hate speech, has led to the death of many and is a major factor behind depression and suicide in Nigeria. Abdullahi said: “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.

“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 Organization report, Abdullahi disclosed that 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 explained 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 victimization.

The Commission, according to Abdullahi, will have an executive chairperson, a secretary and twelve commissioners appointed through rigorous process involving the National Council of State, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly. In order to protect the independence of the commission, he stated that 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.

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 added.

Recall that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, had in July, this year, warned against ethnic and religious demonisation, noting that such actions could trigger violent confrontation amongst Nigerians.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/death-penalty-will-be-amended-says-hate-speech-bill-sponsor.html

Confused legislators

If you restructure Nigeria all this hate speech will stop

The know Nigerians dont like them and detest them, especially those with alien cultures and religions that feel born to rule

So they want to implement the hate speech rule to protect them and their ilk as they milk nigeria dry through RUGA etc

It will blow up in their faces eventually though

NIGERIANS are depressed and suicidal because you unleash corruption, poverty and SARS police state on them while increasing taxes and fulani herdsmen in the country

Restructure Nigeria, no need for hate speech bill

These guys are bloody vampires ahmean damn

just lump me and useless fools for the same country.

check his educational qualifications either primary 6 cert or jss3 cert.
no wonder he plagiarized his essay work.

nigeria ain't growing o. very rural place

This country is fucking messed up

thunder fire you there Abdullilahi bokoharam apologist


only inhuman entity will even come up with such absurd law. I don't blame them when once they studied Islamic education they're qualify to debate in a country that needs sound intelligentsia to do turnaround for the country to progress


Aboki dominate executive, legislature and judiciary and you expect change and development, how?


how many of their states is developed. these bunch of nonentity have the most street roaming children, out of school student, alimajiri, girl child marriage and you want such people who couldn't control their stupidity to have effect in a country?

A

Naija go better one day