People Close To Power Are Also Guilty Of Hate Speech ― Chidi Odinkalu

Human Right Activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu has said that those that are close to the government are also guilty of terrible hate speeches.

According to him, these people are untouchables while some other people end up getting punished for less.

While chatting with Vanguard on Twitter, calling for the execution of Ahmad Salkida, Farooq Kperogi, Professor Chidi said even if it is fine to insult his person, wishing death on anyone is way out of line.

The Prof had, on the 1st of November, tweeted that he would ask Twitter to take down the account of a Twitter user, @Witan17 and @Ishakaa, for advocating for the murder of some persons and he also revealed he had talked to Nigeria’s security authorities about it.

His words, “There are different rules guiding the different social media platforms, they have their Dos and Donts. When you violate those rules, they take their actions. It is okay for anybody to express their freedom to speak anywhere, but for someone to wish me dead and others is not acceptable.

“Yes, I reported that account to Twitter for them to do the needful. The government said recently that they are going to control and prevent hate speech on social media.”

“Some of the people violating and promoting hate speech on social media are people close to power, but the government is not doing anything about it.

“Some of the people that have been arrested are not people that didn’t violate hate speech rule; take Agba Jalingo for instance. Those that indeed violate those rules are left to walk scotfree.”

Professor Odinkalu said he would not “join issues with people attacking him on social media for various reasons, but for someone to go as far as wishing another dead is the height of hate speech and it is not pardonable.”