Clamp-on Social Media Bill: Makinde Debunks Rumour

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has debunked the news making round on the position of the South-East leaders on Social Media bill.

Malinda said this while inaugurating the panel on police brutality in Oyo State on Tuesday noting that the agreement at the meeting in Lagos was that the existing Cyber Crime Prohibition, Prevention Act of 2015 sufficed.

He wrote, “I also clarified the misrepresentation of the position of the Southwest leaders on the so-called social media bill. Contrary to media reports, our position remains that since we already have an extensive Cybercrime Act, 2015 we don’t need any other bills to regulate social media.”

Makinde stated that he should be exempted from any agreement to sanction social media bill.

“Let me categorically state that as far as I know, there has been no such communique from South-West governors that I am a part of.

“Yes, I was in Lagos, we did hold a meeting, but we agreed that we already have an existing Cyber Crime Prohibition, Prevention Act of 2015 and that there was no need for duplicity in terms of a specific Social Media bill.

“So should anyone choose to sponsor such, I should categorically be counted out. The Cybercrime Act is extensive enough and covers any issue that any Social Media bill may seek to address,” Makinde said.

He urged the judicial panel to objectively deal with petitions of Oyo residents relating to police brutality, violation of rights and unlawful killings.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin reiterated that the state legislature will not support any form of restriction on social media freedom of expression and speech.

Last week, governors of northern states called for the censorship of social media to “avoid the spread of fake news”.