No nation can prosper in any sphere of human endeavour with agents of hate speech spitting venom and finding solace in attacking one’s personality, throwing caution to the wind where such personality ought to be respected and strongly safeguarded.
Where hate speech via certain channels of communication become rampant, the society also gets embroiled in chaos, anarchy and endless instability knowing the inescapable fact that one would naturally be offended, most especially when such hate speech is directed at one’s family background, religion or ethnic leaning.
I am compelled by the exigencies of time to draw the attention of those who consider hate speech as a ploy to vent their spleen on those they have an axe to grind, for them to comprehend the simple fact that relying on hate speech to settle scores will never be a solution.
In Nigeria today, the monster of hate speech has assumed a dismal dimension with the 2023 general elections around the corner, forgetting that he who murders sleep, sleeps no more and that whoever disregards the clarion call for peace and stability, would himself never be spared from the repercussions of chaos.
Taking into cognisance the essence of our existence as a nation, we are all bounded by the bond of unity and brotherhood where one always finds it difficult to put us asunder.
It is a fact one cannot dismiss by a whimper that with the present political dispensation is about to witness a new dawn with followers of various political parties and leading contenders for respective positions of authority bracing up for the titanic battle. One then ponders to think on how a lasting peace could be firmly entrenched with hate speech callously being promoted to high heavens.
The question at the moment is, how can the crave for national unity be realistic, when gadflies and faceless venom spitters are running from pillar to post, threatening fire and brimstone. These unpatriotic elements are oblivious of the fact that defaming one’s credibility and integrity does not pay in achieving an egocentric objective.
One always ponders as to why agents and architects of such a destructive and sinister design be given the chance to perpetuate their evil design, using various platforms like the social and conventional media to spit fire in the name of exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression in a democratic setting.
Where the problem lies, in my opinion, is the cavalier and reckless manner some media outfits are providing them the platforms to defame the character of others on account of having personal differences or where they woefully failed to succeed in consolidating their parochial interest, sometimes go to the extent of going berserk.
It is an incontrovertible fact that even among the elite, hate speech is noticeably becoming alarming and has reached a crescendo at the time when the country is in dire need of peace and national cohesion to wax stronger. Where such an ugly scenario exists, followers and admirers of such a personality clash use the dangerous precedent as cannon-fodder to have a field day.
However, the responsibility of bringing to an end this destructive trend from taking a heavy toll in the search for peace and stability lies at the feet of the conventional media, especially the radio stations and newspapers, who in the name of generating revenue often over step their professional bounds and compromise ethics of journalism.
In some states hate speech has become a recurring decimal and is gradually at the stage of allowing things to spin out of control with no decisive steps taken to check the menace. Gadflies feeding on the regrettable phenomenon carry on with their business without taking into cognisance the consequences.
In Kano state, for example, and in my little understanding of politics, the business of partisan politics in an election time, is riddled with hicups, considering the dastardly manner campaigns are being conducted. Notable figures are subtly using their cronies to fight their implacable enemies on airwaves, simply because one is desperate to outsmart his perceived enemy.
For peace and stability to prevail at this crucial stage of conducting elections at all levels, the game of politics is expected to be played with decorum and mutual respect. This is important to enable the younger generation to emulate and imbibe good virtues for us not to be seen as having completely lost focus.
It is also pertinent to note that it is an abiding responsibility for the proprietors of radio stations across the country to rise to the challenge of adhering to laid down broadcasting codes and ethics for the journalism profession to be saved from the antics of those who do not care a hoot to exercise some degree of circumspection, where we are expected to be tolerant under every challenging circumstance.
It would be foolhardy for media proprietors, especially owners of broadcasting outfits, to believe that it is only when they allow promoters of hate speech to wreak havoc on certain individuals that they can generate revenue in order to survive the daunting challenges. They forget the fact that providing good and qualitative content could be a major step towards achieving untainted professionalism .
Those who found their hard earned credibility and integrity impugned for no justifiable reason can seek redress in a court of law to defend their right because allowing such unwholesome behaviour to hold sway, in my opinion, is tantamount to adding salt to injury.
For the nation to be saved from the hate speech, there is the compelling need for the introduction of punitive measure as a way of calling perpetrators to order for them to know that they are doing a great disservice to the nation and the entire society.
Politics, according to the renowned American political scientist, Professor Donald Green of Columbia State University, is not the business of riff-raffs or those who see it as a leeway to create chaos and utter confusion.
Going by Green’s postulation, there is also the compelling need for every citizen to put his house in order, by avoiding hate speech, which can destabilise the nation in a jiffy. We should begin to think out of the box on ways to accommodate each other without rancour, bitterness or disaffection.
Mohammed writes from Kano.
