Freedom Of Speach Is Not Free
As humans, one of the rights we can flex is that of freedom of speech. Given that we are not under any nondisclosure contract with anyone or any firm, we have the right to say what is on our mind without editing our thoughts. It is a legal thing to voice out how you feel.
In our world today, the advent of social media has made it easier for people's voice to reach a large audience in a small space of time. Compared to back when there was no gadgets to access other people through the internet, we can now chat with our friends miles away in a very short amount of time.
Social media is a very power place where people can express themselves and share some things with other people in other to get advice, support or even raise funds to solve their problems.
I have heard of many stories of people getting into trouble for saying things on social media. It pisses me off because the same people that preach freedom of speech, are the same people that will persecute somebody that says their mind on social media.
I don't really see it as a problem if somebody decides to express themselves on social media. Its actually their mouth and they have the right to say anything they wish. The only time when there will be limitations on what people can say on social media is if they are bound by a nondisclosure contract. In the previous hospital i worked, i was bound by this contract. I understood why they made me sign this contract when i started working there.
Last year, one Nigerian artiste, Eedris Abdulkareem released a hit song titled "Sheyi Tell Your Papa." This song targeted the President and some other government officials directly. Unfiltered, Eedris went ahead to talk extensively on how the country is now worst compared to what it used to be.
He emphasized on how things became very expensive as the Naira loss its value when exchanged to dollar. The price of goods and services rose ten times with no hopes of returning back to the way it was.
In his music, he went further to talk about the kidnappings that is going on in the country, and how the government is not doing anything to contain the situation. He also talked about how the President will send in soldiers to arrest protesters. The song is actually an interesting one to listen to. It opened our eyes to the killings, the rise of goods and services and the blind eye the government turned to this situations.
After the song was released, the President issued his arrest. The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission banned the music from being played in radio and tv stations. Imagine being arrested because you spoke your mind.
Things like this happen each time. Freedom is preached. Right to speech is being preached from one politicians mouth to the ears of the masses but the truth is that in this world we live in, freedom is not actually free.
I don't think there is need to dismiss anyone or arrest anyone for speaking their mind even if their words criticize another person.
Thank you for reading.
This is the song that was banned.
Freedom of speech is not free anymore. Whatever you do even if you want to say you mind make sure you have a strong back up
True. You must have that back up before you can freely talk.
in this part of the world, connections matters alot
thank you
I agree with you, some media social not for private anymore
Yeah
Some people will say we have freedom to speak our mind, now we are speaking our mind, but it's becoming an issue because now freedom of speech is not free anymore. I don't know why arrest people because they express there feelings? Nowadays we are now scared to speak because we don't know whether what we will say will put us in trouble or not.
people are scared of voicing their thoughts. If you ask someone to come protest against the bad doings of the government or a strong firm, they will refuse because they know the repercussion of doing so. Its quite sad ya'know.
I dont know why these people arrest anyone that calls out their bad doings. Funny enough, they are there to serve the people but they refuse to be accountable and transparent to the people
Here is something most people don't understand, textbook definition of some specific terms does not apply to reality. When politicians preach about freedom of speech, they are just reading a script, it has nothing to do with reality of things.
I wouldn't advice anyone without a stronghold to go about saying things that could put them in trouble because the law that is meant to ensure freedom of speech is the same law that is used as a tool by the elite to bind the masses.
It feels like the laws are made only for the masses while the leaders can manipulate it at will to fit their interest.
False promises and lies are the trademark of most politicians. Sometimes, i wish we can do what President Ibrahim Traore did.