ITRealms:
Chairman, Board of Governors of the Coalition, Mr. Walter Duru, in
a press statement made available to ITRealms in Calabar at the weekend said the
move is irresponsible and aimed at consolidating dictatorship in Nigeria,
demanding recall of Senator Ibn Na’Allah by his constituency.
He also called on all well-meaning Nigerians to resist it, alleging
that Nigeria is gradually drifting to dictatorship
“The proposed bill is not only irresponsible, but geared towards
taking the country back to the dark days. It contradicts the provisions of the
1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The bill simply shows that some members of the National Assembly are
self-serving in their endeavours and exposes the bad intentions of the
sponsor(s). The guilty are afraid. It is either that those behind the bill have
committed one atrocity and are afraid that it might be blown open soon, or they
plan to secure this draconian law as a cover for a planned evil. They plan to
turn this country to a banana republic. This will not work.”
Duru also said that nationwide mobilization has commenced in
protest against the unpopular bill, even as he urged the National Assembly
leadership to withdraw the bill in the interest of the nation.
“We are mobilizing Nigerians across the country against this
draconian bill. The oil subsidy protest will be a child’s play, compared to what
will happen. Beginning from next week, the 8th National Assembly
will realize that they are representatives of the people and not mere
self-serving individuals. Whoever that does not want to be discussed in public
should stay away from public offices. This shows how insensitive our leaders
are. Nigerians are hungry and the economy is going down by the day, as a result
of poor leadership. How does this bill put food on the table of Nigerians? The
focus now should be on legislations and steps that will improve the
socio-economic well-being of the people; enhance security and check corruption
and not this evil ploy. We have sufficient laws that regulate media practice.
This bill is simply evil,” he lamented.
He further warned that the FOI Coalition will stop at nothing in
stopping the bill.
Duru, who is also Executive Director, Media Initiative against
Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, however urged the Kebbi-South
constituents of the lawmaker and sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibn Na’Allah to
commence the process of his recall in the interest of the country’s democracy,
describing him as a National embarrassment.
It would be recalled that a bill seeking a two-year jail term for
any person who makes allegations or publishes any statement or petition in the
newspaper, radio or medium of whatsoever description against another person,
institutions of government or any public office holder, passed second reading
in the Senate last week.
The bill also prescribed that anyone or group of persons who send
any false text message or post false message on the social media against
another person shall be jailed for two years upon conviction by the law court.
The bill tagged “A bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions
and other matters connected therewith,” sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC,
Kebbi South, compels petitioners to accompany petitions with sworn court
affidavit, failure of which attracts a six-month imprisonment, upon conviction.
On the social media, the bill reads: “Where any person through
text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social media post any abusive
statement with intent to set the public against any person or group of persons,
an institution of government or such other bodies established by law shall be
guilty of an offense and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment
for two years or a fine of N2,000,000.00 or both fine and imprisonment.”
The bill said it shall be an offence for any petition to be
submitted without a sworn affidavit from the law court.
It has generated public outcry since its introduction.
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