Thread by @zeal_a

If you understand the details of regulation of media via internet, you’ll easily see through the hoax being peddled.

THREAD

@tolulopeab @KathleenNdongmo @KennethIgbomor
@subomiplumptre
@segalink
@tysalihu ( baby lawyer 😜)

Please chip in

If you want to counter a lie, the good old way of telling truth is the way to do it and for best results, preemptively telling the truth does it best by plugging the hole the lie would’ve filled.

All a lie does is to fill a void that the absence of truth has left.

You can’t shout a lie out of existence & worse, you can’t “ban” people from telling lies WITHOUT FIRST TELLING THE TRUTH

Now, whether we call lies “fake news” or “wild conjectures” or “unsubstantiated speculation” the truth, told preemptively, remains the antidote for falsehood

Here’s my view on those who we seek to use bans, in any guise, as a first line of Defence:

https://twitter.com/zeal_a/status/1154413928711106561?s=21

If free speech is guaranteed by the constitution then yes, lying becomes a constitutional right! HOWEVER, it’s also within someone else’s constitutional right to ensure you bear the consequences of lying if you’re taken up and you can’t prove your position.

You see, when the government itself lies about the state of health of the president, lies about citizens it has kidnapped and holding, lies about police harassment, lies about its intentions, doesn’t that make them the real peddlers of fake news?

The same government subbsequently coming out to claim intention to regulate the media space to prevent lies is in itself a lai.

It just sounds like an excuse to make sure that only the intended fake news, lies and subversions of the government are what fills the media space.

You cannot, by any meansure of sensibility, using legislation or fiat, preemptively prevent anyone from lying without breaching their rights

If you don’t want lies or fake news, then spread the truth & if people are still mischievous, there’s a legal process to dealing with that

I have to add here that S22 of the constitution of Nigeria places a unique responsibility on the media and journalists to “HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE” and needless to say, only few media houses and journalists stand up to this responsibility.

Anything done to prevent or control this right is a grave repression of, not just their right, but the rights of every single citizen because they are to hold the government accountable to the people.

Punish media houses for peddling lies, but DO NOT PREVENT THEM FROM SPEAKING!