Osinbajo wades into heated ethnic spats saying hate speech needs to be treated as terrorism

ACTING president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the federal government is considering promulgating new laws that will make hate speech an act of terrorism and punish those found guilty the same way as terrorists.

Over recent weeks, the political temperature has risen across Nigeria with numerous ethnic groups attacking one another and issuing ultimatums. Across northern Nigeria, a coalition of Arewa youth groups have given all Igbos living in the region up until October 1 to leave and in the Niger Delta, several militant groups have asked all northerners and southwesterners to leave the area by next month.

In the midst of this tense atmosphere, there have been moves to calm nerves and several meetings have been taking place up and down the country between community elders. Wading into the crisis, Professor Osinbajo said hate speech has got to be categorised as terrorism under the law and it can no longer be tolerated.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the National Economic Council Retreat on National Security attended by states’ governors and some ministers, Professor Osinbajo pointed out that hate speech is actually categorised as an act of terrorism under the law. He also requested that the country’s chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) use the 2018 edition of its world congress in Abuja to project Nigeria's image to the globe and condemn hate speech.

Professor Osinbajo said: “It is a very important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase ourselves and also to show that Nigeria is safe and secure for business. It is also an opportunity to advertise all of our ease of doing business initiatives.’’

He further urged the local organising committee to consider putting on the agenda of the June 2018 event, the issue of hate speech and its implications for the polity and for peace and security. Professor Osinbajo thanked the IPI delegation for visiting him and for its efforts in ensuring that Nigeria was given the opportunity to host the world congress.

“The forum is an important one for raising the question of hate speech and its implications for our country, for our polity and for peace and security. Somehow these things are resonating all over the world, new found nationalism and all of that but I think for us here in Nigeria, it is a very important issue.

“I think that it is important that we find ways of controlling these things. I think that we owe a responsibility, especially leaders of journalism, to find ways of dealing with this issue because it is a cancer," Professor Osinbajo added.

Leader of the IPI delegation and chairman of Thisday newspapers Chief Nduka Obaigbena,

stated that hate speech would form one of the thematic issues to be discussed during the congress. He also thanked the acting president for the pledge to support IPI Nigeria in hosting a hitch-free congress.