By Dansu Peter
Former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande has urged the advocates of hate speeches to thread with caution, saying it was capable of precipitating crisis in the nation.
He said that in a country like Nigeria, utterances must be weighed so as to eschew hate speeches that could precipitate chaos, saying, "it is unethical to say to others what makes one uncomfortable if such words are said to oneself".
Besides, the Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam has said hate speech is a product of political aggrandizement being pushed by ethnic champions for selfish reason.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Akande and Speaker Salaam made the statement while the latter paid the former an Eid Aldha known as Ileya visit in his country home Ila Orangun.
Speaker Salaam threw his weight behind the pronouncement of the federal government which had earlier categorized hate speech as an act of terrorism, asserting that Rawanda genocide which cost two million lives through hate driven war must not be allowed in Nigeria.
He then tasked critical stakeholders in the country and leaders of thought to work hard in rolling back the pervading hate speeches among some groups and individuals who are being sponsored by those who lost out in the power game; saying the interest of the country must prevail over individual or group interests.
In another development, Speaker Salaam noted that it is high time Osun looked into comparative advantage that could be taken from agriculture, saying the state government has stepped up action in that direction and must be sustained for good result.
"We are now better educated and informed that reliance in Abuja would not take us anywhere near the development we all crave for. So, the best belt to diversify our economy in Osun is to exploit agriculture which our government has commenced, but we must sustain it for exportable harvest", Salaam stressed.
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