December 08, 2015 – President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has said that he may not give his ascent to the embattled anti-social media bill which has received accelerated hearing, progressing beyond second reading in the Senate.
In a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President said he will not give his ascent to any bill whose provision is contrary to the constitution of Nigeria.
He said Buhari has sworn to defend the constitution and would not lend his hand to anything that was inconsistent with the document.
“But he is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution, which he swore to uphold,” he said.
Shehu added that the President said free speech was central to democratic societies anywhere in the world adding that without free speech elected representatives won’t be able to gauge public feelings and moods about government on issues.
“As a key component of democratic principles,” the president acknowledged that people in democratic societies “are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might.
“Because the Senate is a democratic Senate, the President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria,” he stated.
