Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, who was caught on different occasions spreading fake news during the 2023 general elections campaigns, has called for a law against fake news, adding that fake news purveyors “must be held liable.”
Mr Keyamo, represented by his special adviser, Niyi Fatogun, made this call at a media workshop organised by Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa on Tuesday. He further shared the report on his Twitter page.
“You kill fake news by killing fake social media accounts. Secondly, we must make laws that illegalise fake news that is capable of destroying the fabric of the nation.
“Fake news is capable of destroying the fabrics of the nation. Those forwarding such news must also be held liable….such should not be tolerated,” Mr Keyamo said.
The State Security Service had warned political stakeholders to desist from fake news, hateful and inciting comments. however, Mr Keyamo, a lawyer turned politician and a spokesperson for President-elect Bola Tinubu, engaged in fake news sharing to sway public opinion and misled the public before and after the 2023 elections.
In February, Mr Keyamo was caught sharing a fake picture of a festival in the U.S. to portray Mr Tinubu’s rally, while misleading the public.
In another attempt to accuse the Labour Party of rigging in the February 25 presidential election, Mr Keyamo shared a video of voter education, claiming it was a video of rigging in Mr Obi’s South-East stronghold.
“This is the political Party saying only their figures were accurate but other political Parties rigged. It is the barefaced lies & audacity with which they carry on their propaganda that is very befuddling! They will soon discover the difference b/w propaganda & judicial analyses,” Mr Keyamo captioned the video.
In April, Mr Keyamo amplified a fake news that Peter Obi of the Labour Party had deleted the tweet of his resignation from his former party Peoples Democratic Party.
A Twitter user, @imranmuhdz, raised the false alarm that Mr Obi has deleted the said tweet on Tuesday, sharing the photo of Mr Obi’s resignation letter.
“Peter Obi already deleted his PDP Resignation Tweet but Internet always remembers, who has the screenshot?” @imranmuhdz tweeted.
Without confirming the information, Mr Keyamo retweeted @imranmuhdz’s false tweet, berating Mr Obi as a deceitful person.
