Africa harbours the countries that have the most ethnic diversity rating in the world. Unbeatably on top of the list is Papua New Guinea with over a thousand ethic groups. Other African countries making names on the list are Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, and of course, Nigeria, with over 370 ethnic groups and over half a thousand indigenous languages is not a ‘poor man’ on the list.
That is how the Nigerian society is structured along multiethnic lines, with diversity in character, religion, socio-economic status, political affiliations among other values.
It is against this background that some argue that the multiplicity of ethnic groups in Nigeria among other factors are responsible for the unavoidable and ever increasing presence of hate speeches in Nigeria particular in the Nigerian social media space.
Based on a research conducted by HeartUmight- a student based anti-hate speech organization in 2019, over 48% of the hate speeches online since 2017 are inclined towards ethnicity. It’s quite unfortunate that attentions are taken away from this strongest foundation of our national disunity and when people talk hate speech, they are rather referring to criticism of government by the masses.
It is no longer news to say that ethnic-based hate speeches have rubbed us of our core values of peaceful coexistence and collectivism. Hence, any effort to curb it should be applauded.
The decision of the Nigerian Senate to device means of curbing hate speeches is good in all sense of goodness, but their definition of hate speech and the categories of hate speeches in focus is controversial. Proposing death penalty, jail terms and N10million fine for offenders is quite out of place to begin with. Instead of this strict legal approach, it is rather reasonable to think of adopting the model used by the HeartUmight students and active citizens network where sensitisation are carried out online and offline to create sound awareness of such speeches and the need to deviate from them as well as identifying key hate words through studies and strategically countering them.
The federal government can also consider public-private partnership to establish a working partnership with NGOs like the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), HeartUmight, etc, and government agencies like the National Orientation Agency to address such issues. Former President Goodluck Jonathan once said: “Diversity is the spice of life”
If fair strategies are not employed in eradicating the growing hateful narrations and violent extremisms in Nigeria, any attempt to do otherwise may be considered as a political plot to silence the masses.
Sule Matthew,
PRNigeria Centre,
Kano.
