The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah has once again kicked against the move by the federal government to introduce a bill to regulate social media activities in the country. He believes that such a bill was unnecessary as, according to him, the government already has enough laws to fight any form of crime that dwells on defamation of character and other relevant areas.
In a paper entitled ‘Social Media Bill: Short Walk to Totalitarianism’ Bishop Kukah described the new Bill as redundant, stale, superfluous and a fraud; a totalitarian attempt to circumscribe the country’s hard earned freedom. He believes strongly that the ultimate goal of the Bill was not just to punish those who offend, but those who offend government or those in government. While admitting that there are some dangers posed by the social media, the prelate urged the government to engage the people in a public debate if it wishes to address the matter legally and openly. “Why should they be afraid of a public debate? It is desirable that we address social media by way of education, open debate and transfer of knowledge.
When did social media become sinister in the eyes of the government? Is it after the same government used it that they now realize that it was good for them then, but bad for the rest of us now?” He equally called on members of the National Assembly to exercise more caution in making laws, saying such is a serious business that demands high moral standards of honesty on the lawmaker. “No citizen should be compelled to obey bad laws. Patriotism is not a commodity of exchange,” he warned.
