ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Protesters storm Lagos Assembly [PHOTO CREDIT: Ripples Nigeria]

Social Media Bill ,Protesters storm Lagos Assembly [PHOTO CREDIT: Ripples Nigeria]

Social Media Bill: Senators address protesters, pledge to do what Nigerians want

byYusuf Akinpelu
November 27, 2019
3 min read

Dozens of protesters on Wednesday marched to the National Assembly gate to ask the Senate to drop the bill to regulate the social media in Nigeria.

The two senators who addressed the protesters pledged that despite the bill being sponsored by their colleague, the Senate would do the bidding of Nigerians.

The protest started around 9:25 a.m. Wednesday.

Two groups, Take It Back Movement and Concerned Nigerians, championed the protest.

Asides the primary demand of the Senate stepping down the social media and the hate speech bills, the protesters also asked the federal government to obey court orders by releasing Omoyele Sowore and other journalists who are held for critiquing state authorities.

They hoised placards which among other inscriptions read: “If you can’t stand the smoke. Get out of the kitchen”, “Only a repressive regime muscles the media”, “#SayNoToSocialMediaBill, we are not in tyranny century”, “If we can’t say what we think, in a democratic society, then it is not democracy”, “Do not gag me”, “Free Sowore”.

The protest began at the left flank of the National Assembly entrance as the protesters with their placards sang songs of solidarity.

They called out the names of each of the 109 senators, chorusing “Shut it down” — referring to the two bills, the social media bill and the hate speech bill.

While addressing journalists, Deji Adeyanju, one of the conveners of the protest, said the action would, henceforth, be frequent.

RelatedNews

Makinde breaches COVID-19 protocols, attends public gathering hours after returning from the U.S.

Nigeria migrates all mineral titles to digital canvas expecting revenue windfalls

Plateau govt to prosecute residents ‘spreading misinformation about COVID-19’

Again, Ortom tests negative for COVID-19

He said apart from the protests, there would be online actions which would involve sending text messages, calling and sending mails to every senator.

He added that this would be followed by “individual name shaming and picketing. We will assign tasks to different members (of our group) to go to their (the senators) homes. Let their children see what their parents are doing.”

He faulted the decision to adopt Singapore’s version of the same bill. He said the Asian country is not a democratic state.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“No going back. Nigerian is in need of voices of reason, voices of courage, voices of integrity. Not the integrity of someone we all know. These two bills are anti-people bill. They are not necessary. The reason for this is because the Cybercrime Law already has a provision for all of these.”

On his part, another leader of the protest, Henry Shield, also chided the legislators for not adopting “progressive bills” like the healthcare bill of the United States and other bills of note that would address the challenges facing Nigerians.

“We insist that the monstrous social media bill and its evil hate speech counterpart have no place in any democratic society, let alone a fledgling democracy like ours. We believe that the bills are satanic and must be totally withdrawn by the ninth Senate with immediate effect.

READ ALSO: Protesters besiege NASS, demand end to social media bill

“As constituents and citizens alike, we believe that the proposed bills suggest that you lawmakers are anti-people and unwilling to either understand the sufferings of Nigerians or even take any meaningful step to mitigate them.

“We, therefore, hope that you will listen to the unanimous voice of Nigerians that these bills have no place in our democracy and must be forever banished to the trash can.”

Senate to do Nigerians’ bidding – Lawmakers

ADVERTISEMENT

Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) and Yakubu Oseni (APC, Kogi Central) spoke on behalf of the Senate.

The former reassured Nigerians that the leadership of the National Assembly is open to dialogue. He called on Nigerians to attend the public hearing on the bills, in order to air their views on them. The date of the public hearing has not been fixed.

“The law is not about the 109 senators. It is about Nigerians. Democracy is about free speech, it is about rule of law. That is why their voices are extremely important. That is why we believe that your agitation is valid and also in the best interest of our own county. We are going to certainly work with you on the day of the public hearing.

“I have no doubt in my mind, if Nigerians don’t want these bills, even though they are being sponsored by our colleagues, certainly it won’t escape the public hearing. I can assure you we are going to do whatever is in the best interest of our own country. Whatever Nigerians want is what the 9th Senate would do.

“We are aware of section 24 of the Cybercrime Act and some of us are on the same page with these agitations. We are not guided by any political affiliation. We are guided by the law and concerned about the progress of our own country,” Mr Sani assured.

9th Senate not appendage of Executive

Yakubu Oseni, the Senate Chairman on Cybercrime, also affirmed that no bill would be passed without a public hearing, saying laws made by the legislature are for Nigerians and not the Senate.

He debunked the growing concerns among Nigerians that the 9th Senate is an appendage of the Executive.

The concern was fuelled last week when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said whatever President Muhammadu Buhari tables before the legislators is believed to be in the interest of the country and would be passed.

“It is not true. If the Senate President said something, we should always check what he said before he said that. I can quote him verbatim.

“He said he knows that ‘Mr president meant well for Nigerians and that whatever he brings and we know that would better the lots of Nigerians, we will not hesitate to pass it through.’ We’re all here to protect the interests of Nigerians.”

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Social Media Bill: Protesters storm Lagos Assembly

Next Post

Makinde inaugurates committee on ownership of LAUTECH

Yusuf Akinpelu

Yusuf Akinpelu

Yusuf Akinpelu is a PREMIUM TIMES' Head of Data Desk. Prior to this, he covered the National Assembly, and fact-checked for Dubawa. He is a graduate of Statistics from the University of Ibadan. He has a penchant for books, debates, and nature.

More News

Sabon layi tin mining site

Nigeria migrates all mineral titles to digital canvas expecting revenue windfalls

January 14, 2021
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)

Buhari keeps mum as unqualified NAPTIP boss assumes office

January 14, 2021
A COVID-19 patient being attended to in the isolation center [PHOTO: TW: @NCDCgov]

Coronavirus: Nigeria records nine additional deaths, 1,398 new infections

January 14, 2021
Donald Trump [PHOTO: FB Donald J. Trump]

Trump impeached again to set American record

January 13, 2021
The scene of the accident

Five die, 16 injured in Lagos-Ibadan highway accident – Official

January 13, 2021
EndSARS Protesters in Abuja 2020

#EndSARS: Court stops criminal case against Davido, Falz, 48 other activists, celebrities

January 13, 2021
Next Post
Makinde inaugurates committee on ownership of LAUTECH

Makinde inaugurates committee on ownership of LAUTECH

Cameroon crisis [PHOTO CREDIT: Journal du Cameroun]

Commonwealth, AU team visits Cameroon over separatist crisis

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps Address Nationwide
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.