NAN-H-4
Campaign
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Aug. 7, 2017 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organization in Kano, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on members of the public to support ongoing campaign against hate and dangerous speeches.
The CITAD Senior Programme Officer, Peace Project, Mr Isah Garba, who made the call at a press briefing on Monday in Kano, said the centre had recorded 601 hate speeches in July from across the country.
He explained that 309 of the hate speeches recorded during the period, representing 50 per cent, were on ethnicity while 202 were on religion.
Garba said Nigerians must stop giving any form of opportunity for those engaged in hate speeches to thrive.
“The public should support the crusade by shunning hate speakers and refusing to be intimated by their actions,” he said.
He stressed that such response was necessary to promote peace and unity in the country.
Garba urged the media to deny purveyors of hate speech any form of access to spread their vile, saying it was fundamental to shun those bent on sowing hatred and disunity in the country.
The programme officer noted with satisfaction that there had been “high reduction of hate speech in the print media”.
Garba thanked the MacAuthur Foundation for supporting the activities of the organisation in the area of monitoring and countering hate speeches in the country.
He solicited for partnership with all levels of government and relevant agencies to further promote peace and mutual coexistence in the country.
According to him, CITAD would continue to carry out activities of mitigating the menace of hate and dangerous speeches by reaching out to the public.
“This will ensure peace and security as well as pave way for social and economic development in the country,” Garba said. (NAN)
MTM/IFY/MZA
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Edited by Ify Omowole/Maharazu Ahmed