"I have received threats" says Senator who sponsored ‘hate speech’ bill

The senator who reintroduced the bill that seeks to
penalise hate speech claims he has been receiving
threatening messages after the first reading of the
bill.
Aliyu Abdullahi said this during a press briefing in
Abuja today.
He, however, said he is not a coward and will not
back down from his decision to push for the law.
The National Commission for the Prohibition of
Hate Speech Bill was reintroduced in the Senate on
November 12.
It prescribes the death penalty for anyone found
guilty of spreading falsehood that leads to the death
of another person.
Newsmen reported the full provisions of the
bill.
A similar bill was introduced to the Senate in
March 2018 for consideration and passage. It,
however, did not make it through to third reading.
The reintroduction of the bill has generated
controversies among Nigerians.
Some civic groups and political parties have kicked
against the bill because of its narrow and unclear
definition of what constitutes hate speech.
A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has also
cautioned Nigerian senators against passing the
bill.
Although Mr Abdullahi did not state the kind of
threats he has been receiving, he vowed not to “shy
away from his responsibility.”
“Like somebody wrote to me, over the past ten days
or so since the bill was read for the first time, I
have received all kinds of messages some even
including threats. But I am not bothered about that.
In all of these, if I receive one commendation, it
gladdens my heart and I did receive many
commendations and one stood out and said there is
so much hate in this country. We must check it.
“If you meet those who have lost their loved ones
arising from religious or ethnicity, intolerance, and
the like, I don’t think they will be smiling with you
when you tell them hate speech is nonsense or does
not exist. They have felt, seen and are living as
victims of hate speech,” he said.
Explaining why the bill was not passed in the eight
Senate, Mr Abdullahi said he did not pursue the bill
because at the time the political atmosphere was
already getting charged after the first reading of
the bill.
“I reckon in my thinking that the atmosphere was
not right for even debating the subject matter because, at the end of
the day, we will be missing the point. So I did not pursue it.
“On assessing the reason why I introduced the bill in the 8th senate
in the first instance, I have seen that these reasons are not abated. If
anything, they are actually assuming a life of their own. So I
decided that this bill be reintroduced and it was on the 12th of this
month.”
The lawmaker said when laws are put in place and no offence is
committed, those laws become redundant.
He said he has taken the opportunity to take on a very critical
subject matter yet some people have turned him into a monster.
“They will demonise me, I am not moved because this is the subject
of life and no one buys life in the market. Nobody came with a
spare.”
Bill not for Buhari’s third term agenda
The Acting Senate Spokesperson, Godiya Akwashiki, also said that
the bill was not a collaboration between the Senate and President
Muhammadu Buhari to run for a third term.
He referred to a comment by the National Legal Adviser of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Emmanuel Enoidem, who said the bill is
insulting to the country.
“It is the right of the senator to sponsor a bill tagged ‘private
senator bill’ even if we have executive bill. But the hate speech bill
before the senate is a private senator bill.
“Mr President has nothing to do with this issue. It has nothing to do
with a third term agenda. It has nothing to do with islamising this
country. Spokesmen of political parties should mind the way they
speak. We should be peace lovers and peace keepers,” he said.
He also said there is nothing for Nigerians to be afraid of in the
hate speech bill.
“The bill was just read for the first time, it will go back for the
second reading and you and I have the opportunity to speak for or
against the bill. Why are we afraid of the bill? When a bill comes to
the National Assembly, it is not every aspect that will be taken, it
depends on what you and I present during the public hearing.”