By- Kunle Sotibi.
What is hate speech?
Hate speech has been described as speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or displays that incites violence or prejudicial actions against a protected group or individuals on the basis of their membership in the group, or disparages or intimidates a protected group, or individuals on the basis of their membership in the group. If a political party is blamed with insulting words, is that not hate speech?
In this period when the 2019 Election is forth coming, the flag of political campaign has been erected and roads have been cleared for thugs who are being used by the politicians to hinder the peace of our dear society through their campaign.
Political campaign is usually a platform where political parties, through their candidates, read out their blueprints for the voters. That is what campaigns are; but unfortunately, it has been a platform for hates speeches against other political parties.
It has been a field where they play blame games instead of stating what their supporters stands to gain if they vote for them. Campaign ground has always been a violence ground where political thugs embark on physical battle with each other. For instance, the attack by thugs at the Lagos state APC campaign where a famous leader of NURTW in the state was stabbed at the neck. Is campaign supposed to be a ground where battle line between thugs are drawn?
Politicians always point accusing fingers to their counterpart rather than campaigning, state their plans for the electorate: what they have done wrong during their administration and how they will right the wrong. But, no. If one listens to many of the political jingles, one will not cast a doubt that it is more of attacking opponents rather than presenting their blueprints.
Nigerian politicians have turned campaign to an avenue where they destructively criticise their opponents. I think, we should start by redefining our political landscape. Let us listen to Barrack Obama’s speech when he was campaigning to Americans. It was full of promises and how the country can improve. This is how politics should work.
Come to Nigeria, PDP will accuse APC for the bad economy, APC will blame the sixteen years that PDP had ruled. And those who defect from the two elephant parties will also cast the blame on the parties who ruled in the past and those who are ruling. Like playing Card (Whot), they keep on passing the blames.
In some cases, they will give out false information just to dent the image of their opponents thus rumours fly around the ears of ignorant electorate. Every political party will paint themselves holy while nailing their opponents.
A child who blames the ground for his downfall will not stand. Political parties should tell us what they have for us and stop condemning other political parties in order to gain our support. Voters should also choose candidates based on individual capability and not by sentiments.
Campaign is a stage in the electioneering process where political parties’ manifestoes are been read out to voters. It should not be a battle ground for thugs and should not be a platform for hate speeches.
