Do we really have the freedom of speech?

The right to free speech is one of the most important rights we have as human beings. It is meant to let us say what is on our mind, and share our ideas and expressions without the fear of anything. However, in a lot of places, Nigeria included, it is really not like that. While we are taught that we have freedom of speech, the truth is that this right often feels like an illusion. No one is allowed to speak out, they are just constantly told to be quiet, in schools, at home and even in the political atmosphere. It's almost as if there is a wall around us and when we try to break through that wall we are threatened or intimidated or scared.

We learn in school about all of our rights, and one of them is the right to speak out when something is not right. However, when a serious matter occurs in the same school, it's different. If a student tries to explain their side of a story or complain about something that’s unfair, they are often told to shut up. It's confusing and frustrating. How can we be taught of rights and then when we try to use them be shut up? Like the right to free speech is this thing that they expect us to know but not use.

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This problem isn't just in schools. In politics, things are even worse. Politicians can say whatever they want, but when regular people try to criticize them or speak out against injustice, they are often met with threats or punishment. People are afraid to speak their minds because they don't want to lose their jobs, be harassed, or even arrested. It's kind of frightening to know that just voicing an opinion could lead to such harsh punishment. Because of this, many people remain silent, not because they don’t have anything to say, but because they are afraid of what might happen if they do.

Even in our homes, the situation can be similar. Kids should be silent when they want to ask questions or express their feelings to their parents. A lot of people come from households where they are not permitted to express their mind. That makes a silent fearful atmosphere that they carry with them into adult hood. When we are taught from a young age to keep quiet, it becomes harder and harder to speak out as we grow older.

One of the few places that people can also find an outlet for their expression is social media. Most Nigerian youths have a lot to say but they feel they can't voice their opinions in real life, so they resort to twitter/instagram/facebook. Social media serves as an outlet for everyone to voice their political concerns, gripe about their social problems, or simply be able to say what they want. But even there, people have to be careful. The fear of being monitored or punished for what you say online is always present. So although social media may provide temporary relief, it is not the entire answer.

In my opinion, when people are scared to speak out, it’s a form of taking away their right to free speech. Not always because the law says we can't, but sometimes because we are afraid of what would happen if we did. When fear controls what we say, it is just as damaging as if someone had directly told us to keep quiet. Freedom of speech should mean the ability to speak without fear. But sadly in Nigeria, this freedom seems unattainable.