Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Nigeria’s Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, who is also the Episcopal Chair for the Commission, Mission & Dialogue, has sharply criticized the Government of Nigeria for its intention to enact a law that, he says, will stifle legitimate dissent and free speech. In a statement made available to Vatican News by the Catholic News Service of Nigeria, Bishop Kukah described Nigeria’s rulers as “largely strangers to the ethos of and what is” a democratic society.
“Nigeria is still very far away from the goalposts of what could be called a democratic society. In my view, the environment does not as yet look anything democratic because the actors are largely strangers to the ethos of, and what is more, too many of them are tied to the old order, not to talk of the fact that the presence of General-presidents suggest that we are still in the thrall of militarism,” Bishop Kukah said.
As the Social Media Bill makes its way through the legislature, many Nigerians have expressed fears that the government wants to use the new law by being judge, jury and executioner over what it would label as fake news.
The Bishop has urged Nigerians to resist the Social Media Bill
“The ultimate goal of this Bill is not to punish those who offend, but those who offend the government… If the government gets away with it (Social Media BIll), we have no idea what else will be on the table. Only a robust debate can cure the claims of cynicism,” Bishop Kukah insisted.
Excerpts from the Vatican News Department
