The National Amir (President) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji (Barr) Abdul Azeez Folorunso Alatoye, has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to focus on bills and issues that directly affects the lives of the people of the country.
He made this call on Sunday 1st of December 2019, at the Organisation’s headquarters, Ojokoro, Lagos during the maiden press conference of the Muslim Organisation on the 67th Annual Convention of the Organisation coming up in Ilaro from December 20th to 22nd, 2019.
Alatoye expressed in his speech that it is of great importance to focus on issues that affects the people directly rather than legislating on issues that has already be catered for in the constitution of the country.
Alatoye said “It is equally pertinent to comment on national issues that affect all of us. Aside from the economic and political challenges facing the country at present, two critical issues are on the front burner of national discourse. These are the Social Media bill and Hate Speech bill at the National Assembly.”
Alatoye states that there are enough provision in the constitution that cater for what the National Assembly is giving attention as of now.
“As a lawyer, I believe there are enough extant laws in the Nigerian constitution that adequately take care of these two bills. At present we have libel law and defamation, cybercrime law and other criminal laws that can effectively accommodate any misdemeanor on the use of social media platforms and extreme comments capable of inflaming passions and causing disunity in the country.”
He further states that the democratic system of government that the country runs is expected to have the interest and welfare of the people at heart. Thus, much attention should be given to the welfare the people and policies that will aid the development of the people. He urged the National Assemblies not to get distracted with things the constitution has already taken care of.
“Since democracy is about the people, I urge the National Assembly to focus more on bills about developments in all facets of Nigerian life rather than being distracted with the Social Media and Hate Speech Bills.”
Meanwhile, Alatoye appreciated the effort of the Federal Government on the infrastructural development of the country and urge them to do more for the good of the citizens of the country.
Alatoye said, “the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Nigeria commends the commitment of the Nigerian Government to the Railway Transportation System. The free railway transportation between Lagos and Abeokuta is laudable. We urged the government to exert the same positive attitude to general infrastructural developments across the country.”
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