Buhari vows to defend freedom of speech

dimeji akinloye

December 7, 2015 6:42 PM

The President noted that free speech enables elected officials gauge public feelings and moods about governance issues.

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to defending free speech, which he said is the practice of any democracy across the world.

Reacting to the public criticism of the proposed social media bill by the Senate, in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari sworn to defend the constitution of Nigeria.

"But he is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to uphold", the statement said.

Buhari added that people in democratic societies “are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might.”

READ: ‘You misunderstood us,’ Senate tells Nigerians

Shehu said that the President is aware of the public outcry over the bill, assuring that it is under control “because the Senate is a democratic senate. The President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria.”

dimeji akinloye