PRESIDENCY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA BILL BEFORE THE NIGERIAN SENATE

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

The presidency yesterday informed Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari is not behind the proposed Social Media Bill that is presently before the Senate which aims perceivably at stopping Nigerians from freely expressing themselves online in respect of political and public office holders.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, said where the principle of the bill was inconsistent with the constitutional provision of free speech the President would not give his assent to make it a law as he had sworn to protect and uphold the dictates of the constitution and would not in any way go against it.

He added that President Buhari was, however, “not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution” which he swore to uphold, noting that free speech was central to democratic societies anywhere in the world.

He said the President also was of the opinion that without free speech, elected representatives won’t be able to gauge public feelings and moods about governance issues stating that people in democratic societies “are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might.”

The SSA said President Buhari was fully aware of the public reservations about the proposed legislation but assured that there was no cause for alarm “because the Senate is a democratic Senate.

Meanwhile the United Nations has received and is considering a petition filed by rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), against the bill. The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, confirmed that the Office of the Special Rapporteur is now considering the petition. He said the group had received communication from Marcelo Daher at the Office of the Special Rapporteur to this effect adding that the Special Rapporteur has also requested a copy of the bill which was immediately sent to Marcelo Daher.

SERAP expressed its appreciation of the prompt attention by the Office of the Special Rapporteur and urged the UN to pursue the matter to a satisfactory conclusion by ensuring that media freedom and social media in the country was not stifled.

The group called on the Senate to withdraw the bill without further delay and end the international embarrassment.