Arise Television’s The Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised Senator Francis Fadahunsi over his claim that a viral video in which he appeared to call on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “kill” members of the Accord Party was manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Oseni argued that the senator’s latest explanation was inconsistent with his earlier statement that he was referring to defeating his political opponents through the ballot box.
Speaking on Thursday’s edition of the programme, the broadcaster also accused the Nigerian government of applying different standards when dealing with inflammatory or controversial statements.
According to Oseni, political, religious, ethnic and other affiliations can influence how individuals are treated after making contentious remarks.
He maintained that if authorities were genuinely committed to addressing hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, the police should have sufficient grounds to take action against Fadahunsi.
Oseni, however, said the senator should be given an opportunity to defend himself through due process, regardless of whether any eventual prosecution results in a conviction.
The broadcaster expressed doubt that Fadahunsi would face serious consequences, arguing that Nigerians who make controversial statements often receive different treatment depending on their identity and affiliations.
He cited the cases involving Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and convicted Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu as examples of what he described as inconsistencies in the country’s handling of controversial speech.
Oseni said Nigeria’s approach to inflammatory comments often depends on the political, religious, ethnic or racial identity of the person making the statement.
He also connected the issue to Nigeria’s longstanding political and religious divisions, including the debate surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Oseni said he had opposed the arrangement because he believed political leadership in a multi-religious country should reflect religious balance and fairness.
The broadcaster further referred to a leaked audio involving former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, in which Obi described the 2023 presidential election as a “religious war.”
He argued that subsequent comments by Sheikh Gumi appeared to strengthen concerns about the influence of religious divisions on Nigerian politics.
Oseni concluded that the treatment of controversial statements in Nigeria remains inconsistent, stressing that reactions often depend on who made the statement and the person’s political, religious, ethnic or racial background.
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