Governor Seyi Makinde has dismissed reports that South-West governors voted in favour of a clampdown on the social media, at last Sunday’s meeting in Lagos.
While inaugurating the panel on police brutality in Oyo state on Tuesday, Governor Makinde counted himself out of favouring having a Social media bill, noting that the agreement at the meeting in Lagos was that the existing Cyber Crime Prohibition, Prevention Act of 2015 sufficed.
“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 our agreement was 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”.
