Hate speech: FG plotting to silence opposition, says Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has cautioned the
Federal Government over its categorisation of hate speeches as an
act of terrorism.

The governor accused the All Progressives Congress of being
number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speeches in the
country.

“When the APC was looking for power, several provocative
statements were made. Nigerians are yet to forget President
Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in
blood’ hate speeches and the threat by the APC to form a parallel
government.”

The governor said this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on
Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New
Media, Lere Olayinka.

Fayose, who said he was totally against hate speech and would
support any effort to curb it, added that it was important to
caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the
blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.

“Even if the APC government is sincere with its new-found hatred
for hate speech, the APC government must first apologise to
Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate
speech.

“What can be more treasonable than these statements made by
President Buhari and his party?

“It is also on record that during the 2011 election campaign,
President Buhari’s inciting statement led to widespread violence by
his supporters in the North after he lost. Over 1000 people were
slaughtered in cold blood, including innocent National Youth
Service Corp members.

“Therefore, even if the APC government is sincere with its
new-found hatred for hate speech, the APC government must first
apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and
beneficiary of hate speech.

The governor counselled that rather than a blanket criminalising
of hate speech, the federal government should embark on a
reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths on the
consequences of hate speech to the unity of the country and restore
the confidence of the people in the government.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has cautioned the
Federal Government over its categorisation of hate speeches as an
act of terrorism.

The governor accused the All Progressives Congress of being
number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speeches in the
country.

“When the APC was looking for power, several provocative
statements were made. Nigerians are yet to forget President
Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in
blood’ hate speeches and the threat by the APC to form a parallel
government.”

The governor said this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on
Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New
Media, Lere Olayinka.

Fayose, who said he was totally against hate speech and would
support any effort to curb it, added that it was important to
caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the
blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.

“Even if the APC government is sincere with its new-found hatred
for hate speech, the APC government must first apologise to
Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate
speech.

“What can be more treasonable than these statements made by
President Buhari and his party?

“It is also on record that during the 2011 election campaign,
President Buhari’s inciting statement led to widespread violence by
his supporters in the North after he lost. Over 1000 people were
slaughtered in cold blood, including innocent National Youth
Service Corp members.

“Therefore, even if the APC government is sincere with its
new-found hatred for hate speech, the APC government must first
apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and
beneficiary of hate speech.

The governor counselled that rather than a blanket criminalising
of hate speech, the federal government should embark on a
reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths on the
consequences of hate speech to the unity of the country and restore
the confidence of the people in the government.