No plan to gag media – Saraki

•Gani Adams flays anti-social media bill
From Fred Itua, Abuja
Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday reiterated that
there is no bill before the Upper Chamber of the National
Assembly aimed at gagging the Press, despite the
misrepresentation and attacks trailing the Frivolous
Petition Bill in the house.
Speaking as Chairman of a sensitization meeting on the
implementation of Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence
and Young Persons in Nigeria, organized by the Women
Arise for Change Initiative in Abuja. Saraki said it is time
to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). He said
the offence is the “most persistent human rights crimes in
the world.”
Saraki said any area which the people find objectionable in
the bill will be removed when it is being considered by the
Senate.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu in
Abuja said: “Finally, I want to throw more light on the
Frivolous Petition Bill. There is a lot of misrepresentation
which has led to attacks on the Senate with some
wondering whether we want to gag the press. We don’t
have any anti-Social Media Bill before us. What we have is
the Frivolous Petition Bill which concerns cases of writing
and submission of petitions.
“Unfortunately, there is a Section 4 of the bill which many
people are not comfortable with. This bill is a private
member’s bill not a leadership bill. But I have since  met
with the President of Online Media Owners who agreed
that there’s the need for further self regulation. When we
are considering the bill line by line, we will remove any
area that people find objectionable because this is a
Senate that is for the people and will not make any anti-
people law.
“Gender-Based Violence is one of the most persistent
human right crimes in the world, one of the least
prosecuted offences, and one of the greatest coercion to
lasting peace and development. He stated that every child
in the country has a right to be protected against GBV,”
Saraki said.
Meanwhile, the National Co-ordinator of Odua People’s
Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has condemned the
bill. The bill seeks to stop the social media from defaming
members of the public, including lawmakers.
Adams said in Lagos yesterday that the passage of the bill
would negate the Rule of Law and some provisions of the
Constitution.
He said there were extant laws which regulated the
practice of journalism in the country and these were
adequate.
Adams said additional laws, when the country is not under
a military rule, was uncalled for.
“I was disappointed that the Senate President allowed the
bill to go for Second Reading. The beauty of democracy is
allowing people to express their feelings,” he said.