Minister of Information, and culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed has debunked the allegation that he was behind the hate speech bill being discussed at the National Assembly
A federal lawmaker, Senator Francis Fadahunsi representing Osun East Senatorial District, has alleged that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed is the mastermind behind the hate speech bill.
Fadahunsi who was speaking with Journalists at the weekend disclosed that the bill was targeted at vibrant journalism, which has become the bedrock of the country’s democracy in the last two decades. He said media practitioners all over the country must rise against the bill with a view to making sure it is crushed no matter the form it takes and the number of times it is introduced in the You must have read the fake news attributed to Senator Fadahunsi that I am behind the hate speech bill at the National Assembly, and that the senator who is sponsoring the bill is fronting for me
“Senator Sabi Abdullahi only front for the bill, it actually originated from the Executive, specifically, Lai Muhammed and the sole motive is just to box the media into a corner, where it would no longer have the vibrancy to question those in public offices. Every lover of democracy and rule of law must ensure that the hate speech is crushed no matter how it is introduced and the number of times it resurfaces in the National Assembly”, he added.
But the Minister while speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday said Fadahunsi’s claims is a typical example of the fake news we are trying to fight.
“I am not the sponsor of the hate speech bill at the National Assembly. However, I remain committed to sanitizing the social media.”
“I have said that all stakeholders will be involved in determining the modalities for regulating the social media National Assembly.” He concluded.
