Understanding this menace called hate speech

Hate Speech leads to violence; it has emotionally threatened the peaceful coexistence of people and the societies. Hate speech is provoking, it can be targeted at a particular race, ethnic or religion which will at last disrupts the peaceful coexistence of such people or nation.

Many Nigerians hide under the constitutional provision of freedom of speech to engage in hate speech especially politicians, this menace has led to loss of many lives and properties. The perpetrators of such an act are mostly political leaders, it can be because of political feud, election is around the corner or for political interests whereby everybody is struggling to take over the mantle of leadership from the other.

The current Gandujiyya and Kwankwasiyya political feud in Kano has led to many hate speeches among their followers on radio and television stations where everyone is calling the other names.

This can be testified in the political programs that are aired by different radio stations in Kano, hate speech among politicians in Kano will tell one how extremely dangerous Nigerian politics is becoming.

Because of the danger of hate speech, a Nigerian Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi from Niger state has recently presented a bill to the Senate on Hate Speech, the bill proposed hanging to any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person upon conviction.

The bill also seeks the establishment of an ‘Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches’, which shall enforce hate speech laws across the country, ensure the elimination of the menace and advise the Federal Government.

For offences such as harassment on the grounds of ethnicity or racial contempt, a culprit shall be sentenced to “not less than a five-year jail term or a fine of not less than N10 million or both.”

Hate speech is evil; Nigerians should avoid it as we are approaching elections, that are the time where hate speech use to become rampant.

As a result of the danger hate speech has caused, not to talk of violence but the disunity it has created among Nigerians; i have no option than to welcome the new law.

It will at least address and reduces the problems of hate speech in Nigeria, it will unite Nigerians. We will become a model of emulation by other countries as a result of addressing this menace.

Adnan Tudunwada, Kano.