Proponents Of Hate Speeches May Face Trial As Terrorists, Osinbajo Warns

TENSIONS within the political and social sphere has prompted the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sound a note of warning that proponents of hate speeches may henceforth be made to face terrorism charges, either as individual or groups.

The Acting President stressed that since the terrorism protection act as amended was now in effect, stakeholders in the Nigerian project cutting across business, religious and political leaders owe it a duty to promptly rise up against such vices and nip it on the bud.

He said if the elites failed in discouraging hate speeches they may also be found culpable whenever the consequences arise.

Osinbajo made these remarks on Thursday at the National Economic Council Security Retreat held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He made the remarks shortly before the meeting composed of state governors, service chiefs in the military, the Inspector General of Police among others entered a closed door session.

“Permit me to comment on hate speech. The Federal Government has today drawn the line on hate speech. Hate speech is a specie of terrorism. Terrorism as it is defined popularly is the unlawful use of violence or intimidation against individuals or groups especially for political ends.

“The law, that is the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 (as amended), defines terrorism as inter Alia, an act which deliberately done with malice which may seriously harm or damage a country or seriously intimidate a population.

“The intimidation of a population by words, by speech is an act of terrorism and this government intends to take this matter very seriously. As I have said, we’ve drawn a line against hate speech, it will not be tolerated, it will be taken as an act of terrorism and all of the consequences will follow it.

“I therefore call on all business, religious and political leaders, whatever your political leaning, your religion or tribe or faith to condemn in the strongest possible terms at all times, hate speech.

“Speech that promotes violence against an individual or group, especially when such comes from people of your own faith, tribe or group, your silence in such situations can only be seen as an endorsement.

“Hate speech, and the promotion of the same throughout history from Nazi Germany and the extermination of Jews to the Rwandan genocide succeeded in achieving their barbarous ends by the silence of influential, voices from the aggressor communities.

“When leaders in communities speak in such a manner as to create dissension or to intimidate a population are quiet, they do a great disservice to our unity and nation.

“This is why I urge all of our political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders and all of those who truly want a united country and a country where there will be peace and security, to ensure that we do not tolerate by our silence the hate speech that we hear every day in our community.

“Let me remind us that our Constitution states that the primary purpose of government shall be the security and welfare of the people. And as President Buhari likes to say: “you cannot administer a country you have not secured.”

“We will not relent in our vision to ensure a secure country, in which all citizens can confidently aspire to achieve their dreams and ambitions. I am confident that today will mark an important milestone in achieving that vision,” he noted.

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