Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has appealed to the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Prince Uche Secondus, to caution their party faithful to desist from dangerous and hateful speeches during campaigns, saying doing that could truncate the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections.
The centre noted some comments attributed to the Kano state APC chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas and those of PDP chairman, Rogo local government area of the state as well as the NUTW chairman, Oshodi, Lagos state, describing the comments as real threat to the elections.
Addressing journalists in Kano on Tuesday, the coordinator, curbing hate and dangerous speech project, CITAD, Malam Hamza Ibrahim said since the campaigns started about a month back, the centre had observed a growing number of hateful and dangerous speeches by politicians at different political gatherings.
He said, “In the past few weeks we have documented phrases statements such as ‘Tsinsiya tsiyace’ by PDP chairman, Rogo local government, Kano state, (meaning APC is evil); ‘Koda tsiya, koda tsiya-tsiya sai munci zabe’ by Hon. Abdullahi Abbas, APC chairman Kano state (meaning whether in trouble or chaos we must win); ‘I will deliver Oshodi for Sanwo-Olu if PDP like it or not, we are ready if they bring 100 guns we will bring 200 guns and bomb. We are going to kill those who will not vote for Sanwo-Olu in this Oshodi’ by NURTW Chairman, Oshodi Lagos state.â€
Ibrahim said condoning hate and dangerous speech as well as fake news in the build up to the much anticipated elections was not only threatening to the conduct of the elections, but the experience after.
He appealed to the politicians to exercise restraints in their utterances so as not to set the country on flames.
