Breaking News
Protest At National Assembly Over Anti-Hate Speech,Social Media Law
Protesters comprising, civil society groups and students armed with placards containing various inscriptions have besieged the National Assembly complex on Wednesday, asking the lawmakers to drop the anti-social media and the hate speech bills which are at various stages in the parliament.
The development led to a great discomfort for staff and visitors to the National Assembly as security personnel searched motorists and pedestrians before they could enter through the main gate.
One of the leaders of the civil society group, Henry Shield, told our correspondent that the protest was to register their displeasure to the two bills.
Shield argued that there were laws in Nigeria which could adequately and sufficiently deal with the issues alluded to in the bills.
Addressing the protesters were Senators Oseni Yakubu and Uba Sani.
The lawmakers said that they had the mandate of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, to speak with the protesters.
Sani explained that there were stages to be followed before a bill could be passed.
He assured Nigerians that the bills would not be passed if Nigerians rejected them during the public hearings.
READ ALSO: dutch-cocaine-peddler-jailed-for-16-years/
Sani said, “We have heard your agitation. We believe it is a very important agitation.
“Some of us in the Chamber have also been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy
“The two bills in question are bills that were introduced by some of our colleagues.
“Some of us in the National Assembly, including the Senate President, would appear at the public hearing. Whatever Nigerians want is what the 9th Senate would do.
“The law is not about the 109 Senators. It is about Nigerians. Democracy is about free speech, it is about rule of law. That is why their voices are extremely important.“
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
