National Assembly, Promoters of Despotism Says Right Group

National Assembly
The members of National Assembly have been described as "agents and promoters of  autocracy" in Nigeria for reviving the dead "Hate Speech"  bill, which passed Second reading at the upper chamber few days ago.

Responding to the controversial bill meant to regulate social media in Nigeria, The Human Right, Liberty Access, and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE), condemned it in totality and  its resuscitation by the agents of executive organ in the National Assembly.

In a statement in Abuja on Monday by the chairman, Board of Trustees of HURIDE, Dede Uzor A. Uzor,who said that the reactivation of the bill was clear indication that members of National Assembly themselves are purportedly despots disguised as Democrats.



Said Dede Uzor, " the recent reintroduction of the hate speech bill shows that the National Assembly hate Nigerians. They don't respect the sanctity of our constitution they  swore  to defend, especially the section that dwells on freedom of expression of the citizens".

Dede continued "We want them to discontinue with this bill and throw it into the dustbin of history".

He wondered why somebody who made derogatory remarks about another person would end in death sentence,  while those who bled the economy of the country through their pens got mild sentences.

"This bill cannot stand. It should be thrown into the dustbin of history, like its forebears, Deceree four, which was promulgated by Muhammadu Buhari as former a Military President in 1983.

He challenged members of the National Assembly to make laws that will benefit Nigerians, create employment opportunities for teeming unemployed youths and beam their searchlight on full implementation of the budget than bringing back stone age draconian law.

"The bill is dead on arrival. It is revival of draconian Decree Four of 1983. It is very shameful that our legislators allowed Buhari's dictatorial tendecy to loom large in a democratic environment.

 He did that in 1983 when he introduced Deceree Four, which he used to imprison  citizens without trial. The National Assemblly should apologise to Nigerians for coming up with this obnoxious, stone age and anti-people bill" he said.

Dede Uzor said it has become imperative to put the National Assemblly on notice that Buhari wants to truncate this  democracy and usher in full blown despotism, warning that they should bear in mind that if this democracy flops, the legislature as always would be the first victim of the three Organs of Government because they would be suspended accordingly.

The BOT boss said that they  gave them  21 days to throw away the bill, suspend the sponsors of the bill and tender unreserved apology to Nigerians.

But if they fail, he said, they would not hesitate to call out their members to in collaboration with other rights groups and progressive forces to protest until they are forced to see reason why the bill must be given a death knell,Dede Uzor warned

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