Omokri to Senate: Don’t criminalize use of social media

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AS criticisms continue to trail the ongoing bill by the Senate to censor social media in the country, author and former Special Assistant on New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has urged the Nigerian Senate to do away with the bill, stressing that freedom of information is a necessity in any democracy.

The TV host in a series of tweets via his handle, @renoomokri argued that the 8th National Assembly led by Dr. Bukola Saraki, should take a cue from ex-president Jonathan who faced false reports, yet signed the Freedom of Information bill to law and never tampered with free speech. He added that throughout the 5-year reign of his former boss, no one was jailed for speaking his mind.

“I call on the Senate to take a cue from ex-Pres Jonathan who faced false reports yet NEVER tampered with Free Speech”
“Jonathan, at huge political cost to himself, signed Freedom of Information to law. Senate should let sleeping dogs lie!”

“Throughout Jonathan’s presidency, no one was jailed for speaking his mind. The Senate should not reversed that legacy.”

He urged the senate to allow sleeping dogs lie, stressing that he is not sure that president Buhari will assent to the bill if passed by the lawmakers.

“What I know is that ex Pres. Jonathan would never sign such a law if it passes and I believe President Buhari won't either”.

“To the Social Media community: When you cook soup with cannibals you have no one to blame if they use you as meat,” he urged users of social media.

Recalled that Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Related Matters, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South generated reactions on the social media as many alleged that a section of the bill recommended two-year jail term for false publication on the platform.

Source: Vanguard