Governors of northern states at the meeting
A call was on Monday made by the Northern States governors for the censorship of social media in order to “avoid the spread of fake news”. The governors who met in Kaduna said the effect of uncontrolled social media was devastating.
Condemning the “subversive” actions of some #EndSARS protesters also, they said some people took advantage of peaceful protest to push their “separative agenda”.
Said the governors in a statement: “In furtherance to its resolution to further engage with the critical stakeholders of the North, the Northern States Governors Forum held a meeting today Monday 2nd November, 2020 at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
“After extensive deliberations the following resolutions were arrived at: appreciates the roles of Traditional rulers in containing the menace of Endsars protests in the north. Collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the Country.
“The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive actions of the Endsars protest. The superlative agitations and other change regime actions outside the ballot Box soon take advantage of the peaceful protests to push for their seperative agenda. The meeting endorse the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the Nation.
“The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news. Therefore, calls for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria”.
The governors also asked security agencies to keep “strict watch” on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to guarde against “unwarranted and destructive protests” and to safeguard critical assets of the nation.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, ministers and leaders of the national assembly.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had a week ago, said social media would destroy Nigeria if it was not regulated.
Earlier on Monday, Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports, said it was important to regulate social mecalled
The minister said though the federal government had the option of shutting down social media during the #EndSARS protests, it chose not to do because it was “committed to the rights of every citizens”.
Many Nigerians have kicked against the planned regulation of social media. Already, a bill on the regulation is before the national assembly and has scaled second reading at the senate.
