{"id":9376,"date":"2021-09-13T09:01:49","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T08:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=9376"},"modified":"2022-05-05T14:38:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T13:38:17","slug":"the-factchecker-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/the-factchecker-22\/","title":{"rendered":"The FactChecker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using Fact-Checking and Information Literacy to Combat Hate Speech<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Michael Olatunosun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opening clause of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) states that \u2018Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state . . .\u2019 and \u2018accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these words, as potently binding as they are, may sound hollow in the ears of my countrymen and women who daily engage in the vile venture of perpetually probing the land for elements that bring disunity. Indeed, lingering economic crises and a set of complex political dynamics in the country are throwing up new challenges and threatening to unknot the delicately fragile unity and assumed social cohesion of Nigeria. Divisive discourses have taken over the air. Ethnic-oriented narratives like those perpetuated by groups like IPOB, MEND, Arewa,  and other secessionist agitators are daily receiving fiery fervour. Rumours calculated at causing confusion and unleashing conflicts are becoming commonplace. The heightening wave of farmers-herders crises and brutal bandits have added new levels of hate and mutual enmity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even more frightening is the increasing spate of hate and dangerous speech that is occasioned by the alarming upsurge of intolerance, ethno-social tension, and mutual suspicion among Nigerians. Just take a look around you and glance back, you would perceive the putrid and malodorous odour of unbridled killings of Nigerians of various ethnic backgrounds at the hands of fellow Nigerians from different ethnic origins\u2013be they bandits, kidnappers, herders, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what is hate or dangerous speech?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hate speech is any speech act \u2018that denigrates people on the basis of their membership in any group, such as an ethnic or religious group that has a reasonable chance of catalysing or amplifying violence by one group against another, given the circumstances in which it is made or disseminated\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, dangerous speech is any speech that is aimed at inciting the audience to denigrate others. In a book, Defusing Hate: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to continue reading<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Checks of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n