Oyegun says hate speech, worse than terrorism

ational Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has described perpetrators of hate-speeches, images and songs as worse than act of terrorism in the country.

Oyegun, while speaking with journalists in his office on Wednesday in reaction to an audio recording that is currently being circulated particularly in the northern part of the country, described it “dangerous and despicable.”

The national chairman of the ruling party therefore called on security agencies to promptly apprehend those behind the recording and other similar acts no matter who they are and their status.

He said, “Every ethnic based crises of whatever nature had started with hate speech. When people within the same country frame and define one another in the manner intended to set them up for violent attack, they are setting themselves up for a major disaster.

“The merchants of hate do not know or just do not care about the consequences of the fire they are stoking in the country. But they have the experiences of other countries to learn from. Rwanda remains a classic example on our continent. However, even as terrible as Rwanda was, it would be nothing compared to what could happen if a huge country like Nigeria is allowed to fall into the disaster of hate-driven conflict. This is why we must all rise, regardless of our political differences and condemns these ugly and shameful acts with one voice”, he said.

The party chairman observed that though ethnic distrust is not new in the country, the rising wave of hate speech, negative religious and ethnic utterance and actions as it is currently being experienced, is part of the fallouts of the 2015 presidential election.

“Anyone participating in an election knows that there could only be two outcomes, you win or you lose. When you lose, you prepare for the next election. What we have seen however is that since 2015, some politicians and political groups have carried on as if they wish the country itself to collapse just because they are no longer in power; this is tragic indeed”.

Oyegun called on the Acting President to direct the security agencies to ensure that those behind these odious acts are promptly arrested and swiftly brought to justice adding, “we cannot sit idle and watch a few disgruntled individuals destroy our democracy, and God forbids, the nation that we all fought hard to achieve and build.”