Hate-speech
By Diana Omueza/Ibironke Ariyo
Abuja, May 23, 2018 (NAN) Project One Production, a Civil Society Organisation(CSO), has urged youths in the country to refrain from hate speeches and other activities capable of inciting violence during the 2019 general elections.
The Coordinator of the group, Mrs Bisayo Busari-Akinnadeju, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that current political comments by youth on social media were disturbing.
She said that there had been a rising wave of intolerance to dissenting viewpoints and ideologies on political matters, especially among the youths.
“Go into the social media and see what young people are doing to themselves in the name of politics and the superiority contest to establish who holds the best opinion.
“If this kind of contest is not well handled, it could incite violence that will truncate the electoral process,’’ Busari-Akinnadeju said.
She expressed concern that “Pull Him Down’’ syndrome was becoming a predominant characteristic of the youth.
According to her, the syndrome means that if I am not in that position, whoever is there must be disgraced, embarrassed and pulled down.
Busari-Akinnadeju, however, noted that freedom of speech and adequate access to information were pillars of a healthy democratic society and meant to advance liberty for social and economic growth.
While acknowledging that such freedom allowed free-flow of ideas necessary for innovation and bolstering accountability and transparency, she cautioned against its abuse.
She remarked that Nigerian youths in politics and governance had been advanced by youth groups in recent times, but that youth inclusion in politics and governance had remained the same.
According to the coordinator, the idea of youth as leaders of tomorrow has reduced a demographic majority to a political minority.
“What this means is that while the youths control the majority of votes cast during elections, they end up controlling nothing after politicians win elections.
“Project One production has taken a closer look at the history of Nigeria which shows how much the youth have featured prominently in political leadership and governance.
“But, in recent times, the story is not exactly the same.
“Shehu Shagari became a federal legislator at the age of 30 and a minister at the age of 35.
“Richard Akinjide became minister at 32, Maitama Sule became minister at 29, and Audu Ogbeh was a minister at 35 and he is still serving today as a minister and the list goes on,’’ She said.
Busari-Akinnadeju described current situation as a polity where Nigerian youths were used as election consultants, social media battalions and political thugs, but seen as unfit younger generation unable to take up politics and governance.
She, therefore, urged youths to get involved at the grassroots and at levels of the parties where decisions were taken on the candidates presented to the electorate.
“The youths, in spite of their demographic majority will be unable to effect real change if they don’t begin to get involved at the political party level,’’ she said.
Busari-Akinnadeju appealed to the Not-To-Young-To-Run Movement and its coalition not to relent in pushing and pressurising President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Age Reduction Bill as democratic gift to youths.
She, however, admitted that all youths could not go into politics, but that competent ones with character and integrity must get in there “and fellow Nigerian youths must encourage them’’.
The coordinator advised youths going into politics to shun greed and to go in with the understanding that serving the country in any political position meant serving the people that voted him or her into government.
“Anyone going into power for the sole purpose of money should have a serious re-think. This is one direction youths should be aspiring to effect change.’’ (NAN)
DOM/ICA/OPI/OPI