Social Media Bill: It is Dangerous for Democracy When Gov’t Tries to Use A Law to Silence Public Opinion – Shehu Sani

Former lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has said it is dangerous when the government tries to silence public opinions that help put it on its toes.

This was Sani’s position on the Social Media Bill that has just passed the second reading gin the National Assembly.

Speaking as a guest on Channels TV Programme Politics Today, monitored by iDONSABI, Sani said Senator Sani Musa, who proposed the bill, has the right to defend it.

READ: See Content of The Social Media Bill Proposed By Senator Sani Musa

“I believe that as the author of the bill, he has a duty to defend it. But as far as I am concerned, and other concerned Nigerians are also concerned is that we should be able to look at the processes of the bill, appear before the public hearing and then make our points known to see how we can stifle the bill. And then if we don’t do that, it’s going to scale through that process, and then it would eventually become a law.

While noting that a few years ago, people in power have become intolerant, Sano said that social media is where they can easily express their opinion in order for the government to be accountable.

“When we say we are opposed to any bill that will regulate our right to express our opinion, it is founded on the fact that in the last few years, we have seen how people in the position of power, have become more intolerant to the expression of opinion on social media.

“And this social media has become the medium where young and old people have always used to inform each other and draw the attention of people in government, and also hold government accountable. When you have such a regulation, that will be used by those in the position of office silence them; I believe that that is a very dangerous course for our democracy.

He also said the bill couldn’t be killed at the public hearing adding that the forum allows them to air their views.

READ: Social Media Bill: A Lot Are Just Crying Foul Without Seeing Content of The Bill – Senator Sani Musa

“You can’t kill it at the public hearing, but you have to be there to express your opinion to those who are working on the bill to know the feelings of Nigerians and then from there, when it finally comes to the floor of the national assembly, there will be voting on it. And I believe that as genuine representatives of the people, they have to listen to the people because this has a very grave implication on our democracy and our country.

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