My Senator HOW FAR? — aka Social media bill and your Senator

Many Nigerians on social media are outraged by a new bill which in part aims to suppress criticism. The oddly named Frivolous Petitions Bill has a section that specifies punishment for malicious (whatever that means) use of facebook, whats app, text messages and social media and even extends its scope to traditional media including radio and print.

The reactions so far focus on the sponsor of the bill Senator Ibn Na’allah of Yobe State.

I choose to react differently or rather expand my reaction. Knowing what the Senate is means at least one more Senator must be written to; the one who represents you. My voice in the Senate as a voter in Calabar is Sen. Gershom Bassey representing Cross River South Senatorial District and I shall be sending him this message. Who is yours?

I am not impressed by denials by several Senators that they didn’t see the bill or that it doesn’t mean what we think it does. This bill has gone through 2 readings in the Senate without hitch. This tells me there is no serious disagreement with its contents among the majority of the Senators and I never heard a peep about it until Sahara Reporters blew the lid.

I am utterly confused by Senators who have said they just heard of it after the 2nd reading. Why are you there? I prefer to be assured that my best interests are being protected by my political representatives and find it most effective to write directly to them to state clearly that this bill is a disgrace. I further ask they state clearly their stand on it and actively ensure it does not come to pass. Yes I am angry at the sponsor of the bill but will not allow my anger create a fog that provides a convenient invisibility cloak for other Senators when it is clear it takes a Senate to get a bill past the second reading.

I restate: I want to know where the person that represents me stands directly from their own mouth and I want them to know what their constituent thinks.

I like action that has purpose and goes beyond venting. Write to the Senator representing the constituency you voted in, live in or have the most stake in and ask what their stand is regarding this anti-social media bill and make it crystal clear you consider it a menace that they must demonstrably stand against. Don’t wait for online petitions and don’t wait for a crowd. The sum of a million drops of water is a force. Write a letter or an email today. Ask your Senator HOW FAR? I am asking mine.