Hate speech and beer parlour gist

Did you see the kind of hate speech that spew everywhere during the last general elections? And some coup plotters think that just by the fiat of some bill, we would change the fact that Nigerians do not just hate themselves? But really love Nigeria; and that the problem is not exactly hate, but the […]

Did you see the kind of hate speech that spew everywhere during the last general elections? And some coup plotters think that just by the fiat of some bill, we would change the fact that Nigerians do not just hate themselves? But really love Nigeria; and that the problem is not exactly hate, but the fact that very little exists for them to love?

Sit in the beer parlour with me and let me tell you about the multi-ethnic, multi-language and dialectical and denominationally differences. Can we really even separate hate speech from stereotypical speech? At what point does hate speech become dangerous speech or inflammatory speech.

Let me end in this manner: Have you ever sat in a beer parlour, or a newspaper vendor’s parliament? Do that on a weekly round, and you will hang communities of people. Have you listened to our opposition talk? Then there will be no opposition. Have you heard the ruling party, the fact that they are ruling rather than govern speaks volume; they should all hang. Have you seen parents gloat over ethnic groups they would never allow their kids marry? Then you know that this coup called hate speech bill is not in any way well thought out, lacks focus, and as such energies by the coup plotters should be channelled at poverty, unemployment, poor medicare, transportation wahala. In fact they should do a good roads bill that seeks to hang ministers, commissioners and contractors that fail to deliver on such vital human necessities. We should have a corruption hanging bill, or else we would continue beer parlour gist on serious issues, till when—only time will tell.

Prince Charles Dickson [email protected]