Senators elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday vehemently kicked against the proposed bill by the Senate to place restrictions on the use of social media.
Tagged ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019’ the bill proposes a three-year jail term for anyone involved in the abuse of social media and or an option of N150,000 fine or both.
However, the PDP lawmakers said they were opposing the bill because they could support any bill that would infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerians as stipulated in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, stated the position of the opposition PDP Senators Tuesday, in Abuja.
According to Abaribe, there is every need that rights of the citizenry are respected instead of enacting anti-peoples legislation.
He expressed concern over the speed with which the Bill was being passed. “The first reading of a Bill is automatic. We can’t make a comment on what is still on the first stage,” he noted.
“What I can assure you is that this Senate can’t be a party to removing the rights of Nigerians under any. Section 39 of the Constitution talks about our freedom as citizens. The 9th Senate will not abridge your rights.
“I don’t think Nigerians who fought and paid the supreme price to entrench this democracy will easily give it away and make us go back to the dark days. Rest assured that when we get to that point, we will stand for the people. Every Bill that passes here must pass through the rigours to ensure that it protects the rights of over 200 million Nigerians,” he said.
Abaribe argued that the country had a plethora of laws that could be used to drive the question of establishing a free society. He noted however that, while social media could be good, it could also be bad. “I am a victim of social media,” he pointed out.
“As much as there is freedom, yours stops where another person’s own starts. We urge Nigerians not to propagate falsehood or fake news. Our job is to guarantee the freedoms and rights of both sides,” Abaribe said.
