The Federal Government has said fake news and hate speech constitute
the biggest threats to the 2019 general election, and appealed to states
to join in the ongoing campaign to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers
posed by the twin evils.
the biggest threats to the 2019 general election, and appealed to states
to join in the ongoing campaign to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers
posed by the twin evils.
 |
| Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed |
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said
this in Kaduna on Thursday, during the official opening of the 47th
National Council on Information (NCI).
this in Kaduna on Thursday, during the official opening of the 47th
National Council on Information (NCI).
”With the 2019 general elections just a little over 60 days away,
there is no issue that is more relevant to the election than the issue
of fake news and hate speech,” he said.
there is no issue that is more relevant to the election than the issue
of fake news and hate speech,” he said.
”This issue transcends political party lines, religion, ethnicity,
and even nationality. Left unchecked, fake news and hate speech
constitute the biggest threat to the forthcoming elections.”
and even nationality. Left unchecked, fake news and hate speech
constitute the biggest threat to the forthcoming elections.”
Alhaji Mohammed said fake news has the capacity to alter the course
of elections and create legitimacy problem for the winner, citing as an
example a report that said fake news helped to depress Hillary Clinton’s
votes during the 2016 US election, in addition to tainting the victory
for the winner.
of elections and create legitimacy problem for the winner, citing as an
example a report that said fake news helped to depress Hillary Clinton’s
votes during the 2016 US election, in addition to tainting the victory
for the winner.
He also said hate speech was a catalyst in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which left at least 800,000 people dead.
The Minister said while the Federal Government has been unrelenting
in calling attention to the dangers posed to the nation’s peace,
security and democracy, including through the launch of the National
Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2018, it cannot do it alone.
in calling attention to the dangers posed to the nation’s peace,
security and democracy, including through the launch of the National
Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2018, it cannot do it alone.
”The campaign against fake news and hate speech is not just a
responsibility of the Federal Government. It is for all tiers of
government.
responsibility of the Federal Government. It is for all tiers of
government.
Therefore, I expect that the Honourable Commissioners who
are here, and those who are not, will launch the campaign in their
various states.
are here, and those who are not, will launch the campaign in their
various states.
”The media will bear the brunt, if the people lose confidence in them
because of fake news. This is why the media must lead this campaign,”
he said.
because of fake news. This is why the media must lead this campaign,”
he said.
Alhaji Mohammed described as ‘very fitting and most timely’ the theme
of the meeting, which is ‘Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to Enhance
Peace and National Unity’.
of the meeting, which is ‘Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to Enhance
Peace and National Unity’.
He urged the participants at the meeting to ‘brain storm and evolve
policies’ that would comprehensively address the menace of fake news and
hate speech.
policies’ that would comprehensively address the menace of fake news and
hate speech.
Commissioners of Information from about 20 states are among the
participants at the three-day meeting, which was declared open by
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his Special
Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye.
participants at the three-day meeting, which was declared open by
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his Special
Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye.
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