Dear President, Before You Send All Bloggers To Kirikiri Prison, Please Read This!

Your Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan GCFR, I Salute you Sir. I hope you will take this article as a mere expression of what I feel about a pressing issue and not just another social media critic which can be used against National Security.

Sir, i write to you as an independent Nigerian and a political blogger who has got mad passion for the development and progress of the GREEN-WHITE-GREEN. I would like to make this article so cool and soft that it can be likened to an eye to eye chat with you Sir. Maybe, for once we can relate in abstract without being too serious or throwing tantrums. Quickly, let me salute your courage and firm stand over the G-5 or G-7 PDP Crisis, again you have shown us all that you can and are so good at ignoring what your majesty choses to regardless of the noise or the political brouhaha it may generate.

Sir, as the year gradually runs by and we approach the beginning of a new year, obviously the campaign year; i would love you to pay maximum attention to my exegesis at this point. According to a Daily Trust Publication on the 4th of December, 2013, the Nigerian Senate was said to have reached an advanced stage to pass a bill that seeks a seven year- jail term or N5million Fine for social media critics found guilty of inciting the public against the government.

Sir, in the last couple of days, this has become a major topic of discussion; guess you did not get to hear about the several comments of Nigerians because of your busy schedule in recent times. Although a second thought cropped up at the possibility that your excellency might just be ignoring the comments as usual since that seems to have been your tradition, or you have been too busy strategizing on how to defeat the APC at the forthcoming elections. Be that as it may, I would stick by the initial excuse.

Now lets get a little serious Sir, i would like you to tell Nigerians why the senate would ever think of considering a bill that seeks 7years jail term or N5million fine for social media critics. Seriously Sir, what i don't understand is if they even realise that they would be out of that seat someday soon and might be aggrieved against a tomorrow's government. I wonder if the FOI (Freedom Of Information) Law has now been revised or altered, isn't that funny Sir?

Here is what the Nigerian Senate is proposing to pass into law:

Section 13 subsection 3 of the bill proposes that: "Anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message shall be guilty of an offense and upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5 million (fine)."

Your Excellency, while the above statement is as explicit as it comes; I beg to throw light to its layest meaning hence; Sir, it means that the handcuff is waiting for any keyboard happy Nigerian who gets frustrated by the massive corruption going on and utters a word in frustration; a statement that further implies an indirect way of stealing our votes, our resources, our funds and now our freedom of expression....Oh What a shame, sorry Sir we're only having a conversation; hope you won't take this personal Sir.

I remember asking Chief Dele Momodu what he feels about the proposed bills about 48hrs ago via twitter and he said "I can't lose my sleep over such Narcolepsy", coughs, i was quick to grab my dictionary for the meaning of Narcolepsy and what i found wasn't so good; you can google it too Sir.

Sir, i wonder if the bill means that the next time Aunty Stella Oduah steals our money to buy bulletproof Gele and buba, we should remain silent forever because of the fear of being locked up in Kirikiri or get our N5million ready before critising any public office holder. Sir I wonder why no verdict has been reached in Madam Stella's case till now; what is causing the delay? Or are we about to waiver the case and sweep it under the carpet like other day light political robberies?

Let's move on Sir, why would the senate NOT sit and come up with a bill that seeks 15yrs minimum jail term for corrupt public office holders? How come there's no punishment for the likes of Stella Oduah and other perpetuators of corrupt government crimes till date yet a bill about jailing angry Nigerians can scale through the second stage?

Sir, can you or the government really do away with the social media platforms? Its a rhetoric; the answer I bet is glaring enough. Soon campaigns for the 2015 elections would kick off; this same social media platforms will become a vital tool for all publicities.

Is it not ironical sir; that one minute you spur us on to salute and proclaim your achievements but the moment we lament or complain with bitterness over misgivings in our country that need urgent attention we are sent to the guillton of 7years in prison or a 5million naira fine.

Obviously; the Social Media is the sole target of this Bill, what about the print media, broadcast media and public speakers? Oh, those media outlet can be bought with dirty money; otherwise what is the rational for leaving them out. This Bill definitely discriminates against the social media.

This bill, as crafted, is nothing but willful suppression of critical thinking, constructive criticism, participation of the citizens in the decisions that affect their lives and an attempt to create a Nigeria peopled by Mumus. It therefore, must be thrown to the dustbin as an anti-people bill.

Finally, the Bill if it becomes law risks driving Nigerian bloggers underground. It is better for us to discuss openly than have a system of bloggers attacking the government anonymously. It will then become impossible to track anonymous bloggers; after all, as the US Supreme Court said it, “anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.”

Ayobami Ladipo
Twitter Handle:
@ayobamiladipo