Last week one of Nigeria’s senators presented a wicked and insensitive bill to the NASS which says: ‘Any person through SMS, twitter, what’s app or any S.M post any statement knowing same to be false with the intent to set the public against any person or group … shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction should be liable to an imprisonment for 2 years or a fine of N2,000,000 or both.’

This sounds like the decree #4 of the 1984 Military government headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, who’s now the President. Co-incidentally,   but ironically issued a statement through his S.S.A (Media & Publicity) Malam Garba Shehu clearly against such a bill, proving once again that he’s really a converted democrat.

Yesterday the Nigerian senate made another statement that the bill isn’t after  clamping down the social media, same old military men can argue that the Decree #4 was only protecting the public officials against false accusations by the press. So what’s the difference? #SayNoToSocialMediaBill

We should all encourage investigative journalism, but at the same time we shouldn’t forget about Mr. President’ fight against corruption, (#SayNoToCorruption), terrorism, stumbling economy. One of the major reasons why this government was elected. Other issues such as: climate change, certificates forgery, false declaration of assets and even cases of senate house rules forgery. I believe the 8th assembly should take care of that and its house first, then the new media.

If Jonathan Goodluck (The man who described himself as the most criticised President in the world, in 2012) stood all the abuses and insults in the name of criticisms, why not the same men who used the same platforms to get to power? Many a times, his spokesman had to defend that his boss wasn’t a drunkard? What has changed?

Our Senators should may be learn from a former senator also, (later who became president of United States), who said ‘If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen’

                           * * *

GAGARABADAN namiji tsayayen dan Kasuwa.

Late Dr. Mamman Shata Katsina, who I’m one of his fans, had a famous (or infamous) song ‘GAGARABADAU’ about 40 years ago against a monarch of his time. I’ll use some verses of his song, today against the legislator who presented that draconian bill to the floor of the house that’ll see 140 characters getting someone to jail for 2 yrs. By that time, that senator must have earned over $4m. The man in question here happens to be from the same state that the ancestors of this late musician came from over 200yrs ago.

Dr. Shata regretted that song, he said if he had the chance he’ll shut it down from the people that time, just how our senators want to gag us on the social media. Late Shata couldn’t, they too by God’s grace. In my case, no regrets or whatsoever. This shouldn’t be taken seriously at all, not only because I don’t want to spend the next 2 years jail, Yes! I’m not in the mood. Right now let me exercise my democratic right, at least it’s only a bill as at now struggling to pass 2nd reading may be.

Below is the song, for the non-hausas, I’m sorry. If you can read in Hausa but not conversant with the Late Shata’ songs, you need to, or at least get this ‘Gagarabadau’.

Gagarabadan namiji tsayayyen dan Kasuwa

 

Ni, Shata ban barin kidin Gagarabadau

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill

.. Yara mun tafi birni uban kasa zai yi magana da mu

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill protests at Unity fountain, Abuja.

Ga mu gaban fada (Aso villa) mai abin (Nigeria) zai magana da mu (#SayNoToSocialMediaBill)

 

A lokacin da mai duka (commander-in-chief of the armed forces), ya tambaye ni ya ji batun gaskiya.

(#SayNoToSocialMediaBill)

Tsaya na Yelwa (@ya_waliyyi) sunan wa ka fadi a ce mani kayi laifi?

Gagarabadan namiji tsayayyen dan kasuwa (Sanata **** *** ****** mai rigar kwat!)

Daga Gagarabadan namiji...*** mai kwat?

(Ai ranar da ya gayyace sa liyafa VILLA ya shaida wannan binjimar ‘kwat’)

 

Baba (Baba Buhari) yace karyar ka Mammalo (Muhammad Malumfashi) ba ka da laifi!

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill

Shine daya (#SayNoToSocialMediaBill) ka fadi a kan ce ka yi laifi?

 

To kun ji dai dattijo (Baba Go-slow) bai hana ni ba, kara zuga ni yayi!

Presidency: I won’t assent social media bill

#PMBSaysNoToSocialMediaBill

 

Yace (PMB) in daddargi azzalumi, macuci, mamugunci (Sanata Gagarabadau)

Ku (Social Media) na fa ji , Sarki (Shugaban Kasa) bai hana ni ba kara zuga ni yayi!!

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill

I believe in the freedom of expression… -President Buhari

To ni da yanzu AlhamdulilLah hankali na, ya kwanta! Ni daga yanzu AlhamdulilLah, hankali na na kwance liffffffff!!!

This senate is a constitutional one, it’ll not sign anything that’s not in line with the constitution of Nigeria. -Pres. Buhari

Allaah ya t*i*e ma (Sanata Gagarabadau) da kai da iyalin ka (Sauran Sanatocin #SocialMediaBill)

       ***some verses skipped here ***

Ana nema na da gatari (2 years in prison) wai za a saren, ana nema na da bindiga Baba a harben (N2,000,000m fine).

Ina zamani na gidan mu sai naji kira biyu, wai Salamu Alaikum kanin Idi yayan Yelwa .. (@ya_waliyyi yayi tweeting)

Lol..

This article is only a campaign against the Social Media Bill.

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill

Muhammad Malumfashi tweets @ya_waliyyi

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates