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Freedom Of Speach Is Not Free
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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.
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