Introduction
After her independence, Nigeria State hood came into existence and joined the comity of other nations in the world as a member of the United Nation. Under this International Organization that uphold the fundamental human rights which freedom of speech is main part of it.
Our nation was forged and founded by the love and patriotic movement of our founding fathers. They are purely nationalists that believe strongly on our nation and ready to work for the goodness of every citizen. Their courageous spirit and freedom of speech which was their weapon help to the establishment of the nation. Their voice was strong enough that express their desires and aspirations for their nation. Because their right for expression are protected and fundamentally, they were able to employ the services of various mass media like the newspapers, radio etc to tell their stories and demands which handled judiciously and Nigeria as nation was firmly established.
Humans in respective of age, color, race and status have the right to expression and speech freely. Also, freedom of speech plays a major role in the founding of nation hood. Times have changed and such freedom have been challenged in many ways. Question on every educated Nigerian now is if there's freedom of speech? Many factors proved by pitiful scenarios in Nigeria have challenged this basic right of humans and it's results are very unpleasant to the development of the nation. Let's share some of them and their significances.
After the first democratic regime where those founding fathers exercises their right to rule and govern the young nation, nepotism and corruption rear up their ugly heads and grew strongly. Those leaders became sentimental and favor people from their ethnic background more than the nationalism. Military government took over the government on the guise of fighting those ugly faces of nepotism and corruption. As they failed woefully because those internal and external influences. Civil War broke out which leads to the death of over six millions people and destruction of livelihood. Every fundamental rights was crippled and peaceful co-existence suffered too.
Last year, the people rose up and engage in the peaceful demonstration because of some corrupt and evil minded individuals in the Nigerian police force. We demanded some change and improvement as they labeled every young and educated Nigerian youth with phone of every kind as fraudsters. They will extort and punish the person for no just reason. The situation became worse that everyone is then a suspect. Youth of every kind pour out on the street and demanded that there will be change. Our right for expression and demonstration was truncated and crippled with the presence of their military forces. They killed many young people and arrested others. One of the popular Nigerian youth known as DJ Switch is still incarcerated till now.
When rights of human including freedom of speech are respected, the nation will be more civilized and developed. One area that will be positive impact is the judicial system as Everyone will enjoy free trials and speedy judicial processing to determine their cases. This term "Awaiting Trial" is a popular statement in our criminal and judicial system that have keep the old and dilapidated correction centre overpopulated as many people still await for their cases to be heard and determined but have been isolated from the public and incarcerated for years. When freedom of speech and other fundamental human rights will be upheld, the number of cases heard will increased and people will regain their rights and be free.
Our system will be sensitized and become transparent if only our freedom of speech will be upheld. Election will be free and fair which will bring in good and selfless leaders will mounted the administrative process will effect positive and needed changes that will improve our lives and prosperity. Every sectors of our existence will be nourished as people will demand for accountability and transparent which will ensure effective governance and development of the nation that everyone will be pride of.
Finally
In the Nigerian setting, many factors that challenged the right of speech and expression of the people which is one of the reasons why Nigeria have not woken as the real giant to lead in the development of the African countries and as the pride of black man. But things will change as right information and desires of the people will be become supreme and the benefit of the people.
The article is inspired by the monthly prompt provided by 