Inside Nigeria
Death Sentence For Hate Speech Meant To Silence Criticism – Soyinka
Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka on Thursday said the proposed death sentence as punishment for hate speeches in Nigeria currently undergoing deliberations at the National Assembly is meant to silence fierce criticism and opposition in the county.
Soyinka, who spoke at the Ripples Nigeria Dialogue organized by the Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism in collaboration with Ripples Nigeria in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, said the “bill is to silence criticism and buy immunity so that their acts will not be exposed. This is coming at a time the world is trying to end the capital punishment.”
According to him, it was was ironical for him to condemn the hate speech bill as he had received several hate speeches and disparaging languages by Nigerians when he said he was not going to be in a community ruled by Donald Trump.
“I received hate speeches and languages when I said I was not going to be part of the United States Community. I was cursed and received hate speeches and now you want me to condemned the hate speech. I don’t want anybody to be hanged but I want them to be shamed. That is why I said I just want us to look in the mirror. I just want people to stop hate speeches,” he said.
Delivering his speech as guest lecturer on the topic “From Miyetti to Haiti: Notes from a solidarity visit”, Soyinka in comparison, narrated events from his most recent visit to the Caribbean.
The Nobel laureate condemned the “poor and insensitive” language and commentary of the Minister of Defense, Mansur Ali on the killings of harmless villagers by the marauding Fulani herdsmen.
“What did you expect them to do after their grazing routes had been blocked?” he quoted the minister as saying at that time.
“This is addressing people whose livelihoods and lives have been taken by the herdsmen. Of massacre and of those whose farmlands and properties have been destroyed by the herdsmen from Benue, Nassarawa, Taraba and Plateau states. Land grabbers are trying to take over people’s land that does not belong to them. Farmers are complaining daily of cattle’s overtaking their lands,” Soyinka lamented.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari ought to have by now sacked the defence minister for his inglorious comments, adding that the excuse of some herdsmen for invading some communities in the south was that the Lake Chad had dried up.
Soyinka said the nation was not the first country to experience natural disasters, and that this was not an excuse to take guns to destabilize other peace loving people in their communities.
Soyinka also said the nation had both leadership and fellowship problems, noting that building trust required frankness and that “we have to be very frank. Our problem is that we don’t look often in the mirror.”
Others at the Ripples Nigeria Dialogue moderated by Reuben Abati are former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi and Dr. Akiyode Afolabi, Ripples Nigeria reports.
Anonymous
March 16, 2018 at 6:13 am
Part of their evil agenda
Anonymous
March 16, 2018 at 1:38 am
Good day ,prof Wole shoyinka, this the democracy you supported, I want you personally to apologise to all Nigerian for your misleading support for president Buhari.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 11:04 pm
Good morning Baba Wole, you follow sold us into this despotic democracy
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Whenever the electorates and their political mercenaries deliberately put square pegs in round holes, what we are expressing presently within the country, will only be the beginning of an end!
And mind you there will be no rest until the end of that very beginning…
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 9:28 pm
That is one giant zoo called Nigeria who released all boko haram terrorist but jail those who speak against buhari and his Fulani headsmen government of terror hmm
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Buhari aim to be wishing, those that criticize his terrorist activities death .and his bokoharams, in the name of repented bokoharams.wow
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Criticism nurtures leadership.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 8:12 pm
You people created this monster. Am still waiting to hear you call Buhari and his wife derogatory names via Hippopotamus and Nebuchadnezzar. As you called Jonathan and Patience.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 7:14 pm
Freedom of SPEECH. The truth is hard to ear. Hear them out and change. Don’t lock people up.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 6:55 pm
The Sea Dog is now finding his voice. It’s painful to have supported failure. Nothing kills quickly than internal regret.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Death Sentence/penalty should be for Corruption and embezzlement.
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 6:37 pm
THAT’S THE MISSION,BUT IT WON’T WORK
Anonymous
March 15, 2018 at 6:28 pm
Hmmm baba so ur just wakeing up .