November 28th, 2019
All Protocols observed
Dear Honorable Senators,
BEFORE YOU PASS THE PROPOSED HATE SPEECH BILL
We are writing regarding the recent proposed Hate Speech Bill. The Senate seems to have abandoned issues that affect the economic, social, and political well being of our beloved nation, to pursue after matters of less importance. You should not misconstrue constructive criticism and policy disagreement as a propagation of hate. If we must pass laws against hate speech, we should look into why there is so much hate, anger, and hopelessness in the nation. If we must pass the hate speech bill, we must ensure that our roads are motorable and up to the twenty-first-century standards. We must ensure that our children are receiving the best health care. We must ensure that every house enjoys portable clean water, steady electricity, and at least a 3G internet connection.
Honorable Senators, ensure that every public school is equipped with computer labs; that the country has improved and functional health care and hospitals. Let’s enact laws and policies that will build and invest in Human Capital development programs for the Youths and Women. You need to create an environment that promotes and encourages creativity, innovation, and champions economic growth in the country. Let’s work on electoral reforms before tackling the hate speech bill; let’s address the decay and rot in our education system.
Honorable Senators, let’s focus on solving the gridlock on Oshodi Apapa Expressway. By investing in the creation and development of functional seaports in other regions of Nigeria other than Lagos. Impress upon on the Presidency to establish more functional Seaports outside of Lagos, may be Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Lokoja to mention a few and the gridlock issue would be solved within a year. Once you have done all this, you can go ahead with the hate speech bill.
In summary and conclusion, address all that had been mentioned above before proceeding with the hate speech bill. We plead with you to focus on building a stronger institution without personal partisan interest. Then you may consider the hate speech bill if it is necessary.
Thank you, GOD bless you all and GOD bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yours faithfully,
Ifeanyichukwu Nwanoro
President and Global Coordinator CIPDI
