Nigerians’ll decide fate of hate speech bill, says Lawan
Following the unceasing attack on the proposed hate speech bill, Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Monday declared that Nigerians will determine the fate of the controversial bill.
Lawan also insisted that the 9th Senate and indeed the National Assembly should be judged by its actions and inactions.
The Senate President made the declaration at a media parley in Abuja on the achievements of the 9th Senate in the past six months.
The proposed hate speech bill has continued a barrage of attacks by prominent Nigerians since it was introduced by its sponsor, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
But Lawan noted that Nigerians would have the opportunity to decide whether the bill would be passed or not.
He added that Nigerians would have a date during the public hearing on the bill to say whether they wanted the bill passed or not.
He expressed happiness that Nigerians were talking about the bill saying “it is not up to members of the National Assembly alone to deal with the hate speech bill.”
According to him, the bill is for every interested person to say if they wanted the hate speech bill passed or not.
On the labelling of the National Assembly as a rubber stamp parliament, Lawan insisted that misrepresenting what the Senate stood for, Nigerians judge the upper chamber by what it does.
He said that it would only be proper to call the Senate rubber stamp if it doing “rubber stamp” biddings of the executive.
Lawan said, “Let me take this opportunity to appeal, judge us by what we do. Judge us by our actions. We have undertaken so many actions so far, and the press has been in this journey with us. Please judge us by what we do and what we don’t.
“There is no way we can, for example, pass into law something that will be inimical to the people of Nigeria. No we can’t.
“But we will do everything possible to ensure that we legislate on what will make life better for Nigerians and we have shown the sign so far.
“We have tried in the Senate to remain united, focused and deliver on what is good for Nigeria. So far, I think we have not done anything to show that even if a request is against Nigerians, it will be passed.
“But I don’t want to even imagine a situation where the National Assembly will be mean at Nigerians because we are a microcosm of Nigeria.
“So that settles the issue of rubber stamp. Because when we do rubber stamp, you can say this is rubber stamp. But if we do what is right, please encourage us because it helps.”
“I answered something at the beginning about hate speech. Hate speech (bill) is one issue that has elicited so much reaction from Nigerians.
“Personally, am happy that everybody is talking. It is not up to members of the National Assembly alone to deal with the hate speech bill.
“Like I said at the beginning, it is for every interested person. If you say the hate speech bill should not pass, when they would conduct the public hearing, get as many people against the hate speech bill as possible ton attend the public hearing and make their case.
“I am sure it is better for me stop to talk about hate speech so that I don’t also engage in hate speech.”
“So that settles the issue of rubber stamp. Because when we do rubber stamp, you can say this is rubber stamp. But if we do what is right, please encourage us because it helps.”
Lawan said that the 9th National Assembly will do things differently to break the jinx with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) next year.
He added that the Senate as a matter of urgency, prioritize the consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill alongside reforms of the Electoral Act when it returns from the Christmas break in January.
