Buhari Disowns Senate Over Anti-Social Media Bill
President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration remains committed to the
protection of free speech in keeping with democratic tradition.
Buhari said this on Monday while reacting to public hostility towards the
social media bill currently being debated by the Senate.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Mallam
Garba Shehu, the president said he would not assent to any legislation that
might be inconsistent with the constitution of the country.
The senate is debating a bill which seeks to punish individual who publish
alleged false news in social and new media with hefty fines and months/years
of imprisonment.
Shehu, in a statement, noted that Buhari had sworn to defend the constitution
of Nigeria and would not lend his hand to anything that is inconsistent with
the constitution.
He, however, stressed that Buhari "is not averse to lawful regulation, so long
as that is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to
uphold".
The presidential spokesman also quoted Buhari as saying that free speech is
central to democratic societies anywhere in the world.
He quoted the president as emphasising that without free speech, elected
representatives would not be able to gauge public feelings and moods about
governance issues.
He said Buhari acknowledged that as a key component of democratic principles,
people in democratic societies “are so emotionally attached to free speech
that they would defend it with all their might”.
According to the presidential aide, Buhari is fully aware of the public
reservations about the proposed legislation.
Shehu said that the president also, however, assured that "there is no cause
for alarm because the Senate is a democratic Senate".
"The president won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with
the constitution of Nigeria", Shehu said.
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