Shehu Sani Attacks Northern Governors For Backing Social Media Regulation

The former senator representing Kaduna central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, has lampooned northern governors for backing the federal government’s bid to regulate social media, while allegedly ignoring myriad of challenges facing the region.

Sani said instead of pondering on how to address incessant killings, banditry, insurgency and kidnappings in the region, the northern governors were more concerned about the regulation of social media in the country.

The senator’s reaction came after the Northern Governors Forum, on Monday, backed the federal government’s ongoing efforts to check the spread of fake news and hate speech by regulating social media in the country.

Sani tweeted on Tuesday: “Northern Governors; Their Kinsmen are being slaughtered daily by Bandits and insurgents, their people are daily being Kidnapped and impoverished by ransom, their women raped & their villages are under siege. Their people live in Fear and Funerals. Yet, Social Media is their problem.

“They rejected Local Government autonomy; They rejected States Assembly financial autonomy; They rejected states Judiciary financial autonomy; They rejected new pay package for Teachers. The one they want is STATE POLICE.”

The northern governors’ forum had declared its stance in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region.

The northern governors noted that the use of social media in misinforming the public has had devastating effects on the general well-being of the country.

THE WHISTLER reports, however, that the renewed calls for the regulation of social media came after youths in the country recently created global awareness about alleged extra-judicial killings, police brutality and extortion, using the #EndSARS hashtag.

#EndSARS, which is a decentralized online and physical social movement, received over 28 million tweets during recent protests against the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police.

But speaking at their meeting on Monday, the northern governors said while they support the reform of the police, the uncontrolled use of social media may threaten the nation’s security.

“Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course.

“The meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police,” it said in the communique.

The governors also condemned the alleged rebellious actions of some #EndSARS protesters and endorsed “the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.”