In a statement, the Nigerian Presidency has quoted President
Muhammadu Buhari as dissociating himself and his administration from the social
media law being cooked by the Nigerian Senate.
Read the full statement below:
SOCIAL MEDIA BILL: BUHARI RESTATES COMMITMENT TO FREE
SPEECH.
"President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the
commitment of his administration to the protection of free speech in keeping
with democratic tradition.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu who was reacting to the public hostility towards
the social media bill now being debated by the Senate, said President Buhari has
sworn to defend the constitution of Nigeria and would not lend his hand to
anything that is inconsistent with the constitution.
But he is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that
is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to uphold.
The President said free speech is central to democratic
societies anywhere in the world. The President explained that without free
speech, elected representatives won’t be able to gauge public feelings and
moods about governance issues.
As a key component of democratic principles, the President
acknowledged that people in democratic societies 'are so emotionally attached
to free speech that they would defend it with all their might.'
Malam Garba Shehu explained that President Buhari is fully
aware of the public reservations about the proposed legislation but assured
that there is no cause for alarm 'because the Senate is a democratic senate.
The President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the
constitution of Nigeria.'"
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