PDP To Nigerians: Unite Against Social Media Bill

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to unite, irrespective of socio-political considerations, against the anti-social media bill before the National Assembly.

The controversial bill titled “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill, 2019” is sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger) is currently at the public hearing stage at the Senate.

The bill has become a subject of controversy both offline and on the platforms of social media.

The opposition party, in a statement, by its publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, noted that the bill is being pushed by anti-democratic elements with the intention to gag Nigerians and suspend constitutional freedom of expression.

PDP called on organized civil societies, media and pro-democracy groups to resist the passage of the bill.

Part of the statement reads:

“The PDP said it is time for Nigerians to eschew all political, sectional and religious differences and stand in unity against a bill that is clearly designed to suppress and silence the people, emasculate institutions of democracy, particularly the media, take away the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech of citizens and turn them into conquered people without a voice, in their own country.

“It is clear that this bill is part of the anti-democratic moves to further emasculate the 1999 Constitution (as amended) ostensibly as a prelude to foisting a full totalitarianism in our country, where citizens will no longer have the right to freely hold or support opinions.

“It is obvious that the reason for this bill is to suppress democratic rights and prevent Nigerians, the media, civil society groups, pro-democracy organizations, the opposition and dissenting voices from freely criticizing the atrocities, abuses, incompetence, corruption, security compromises, nepotism and general misrule that have pervaded the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

“The frenzy to pass this bill further exposes the intolerance of the Buhari-led administration as well as the desperation to cover its atrocities for which it is mortally afraid of public criticism.

“The PDP expressed worry that the Senate listed the unconstitutional and anti-people bill for second reading procedures even when Nigerians across board had reached a consensus in rejecting the bill, given its underlying fascist intendments.

“The party holds that our nation already has appropriate laws guiding the boundaries of free speech and opinion, which the authorities can enforce within the ambits of constitutional provisions, in the case of any violation.”

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