Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has on Wednesday night presented two books in Yola, Adamawa state as part of efforts to enlighten the public on dangers associated with hate speech which breeds acrimony, and violence in society.
Isa Garba, Senior Program Officer of CITAD while presenting the books entitled, “Context and content in hate speech discourse in Nigeria” edited by Jibrin Ibrahim and Y.Z Ya’u and “The compromised state, How corruption sustains insecurity in Nigeria,” Chris M.A Kwaja and Yunusa Z. Ya’u said the production of the two books was in line with CITAD philosophy of documenting things for a generation yet unborn.
“It is the tradition of CITAD of documenting things in a book form despite the level of poor reading culture we have in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern part of Nigeria. It is good we document things for other generations to see.” He said
He explained that the organization decided to present the books to the public through Journalists for better perspective, stressing that hate speech has become so common in Nigeria because politicians, religious and ethnic bigots use it as a platform to achieve their selfish end regardless of its consequences on the society.
“It was the singular hate speech that caused the Rwandan Genocide in 100 days no fewer than 800,000 people were gruesomely massacred.
“Also similar messages were also responsible for the death of no fewer than 1000 lives in Kenya.” He said
Garba however noted that research has shown that about 92% of hate speech is related to religion and ethnicity, and called on journalists to enlighten the general public to be wary of those using religion and ethnicity to further their selfish inclinations that are detrimental to society.
“The organization has also adopted a system that crowdsources in order to guard against the intergenerational transfer of what is perceived as hate speech which is analyzed using hate speech monitors.”
“With the complexity of Nigerian polity, CITAD is trying to come up with an acceptable definition of hate speech as it has been vigorously engaging stakeholders to that effect,” Garba added
He expressed dismay over the potency of hate speech in Nigeria’s realm, noted that it has become a habit of some online and conventional media of using it to achieve their agenda.
“One very disturbing and dangerous dimension of hate speech is the stereotyping of criminals along ethnic or religious lines.”
“CITAD is not canvassing for change of laws to address the issue of hate speech as Nigeria has sufficient laws that can curtail the preponderance of such ugly developments, but the organization is championing sensitization on the need for the general public to know the effect of such negative tendencies.” He said
Garba while reiterating the determination of CITAD to ensure drastic reduction in corruption noted that conflict entrepreneurs capitalize on corruption to deepen society’s malaise by creating artificial insecurity and unrest.
The Senior Programme Officer called on the journalists to report corruption in a manner that the ordinary man will decode and know its effect.
“Instead of reporting the quantum amount stolen, it is rather proper for journalists to tell the public the opportunities lost as a result of that corrupt act perpetrated by either individual or group of persons. He said
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