13th May, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
CYBERSECURITY LEVY BY INDIVIDUALS: A LIE
FROM THE PIT OF JAHANNAM - MURIC
… Warns against inciting Nigerians against government.
Nigerians have been advised to ignore rumours of cybersecurity levy
payable by individuals because it is not true. The advice was given by an
Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
In a statement issued on Monday, 13th May, 2024, the Executive
Director of the human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, debunked
the idea of a cybersecurity levy to be paid by individuals. He insisted that
the 0.5% levy will only be paid by banks and other financial institutions,
telecommunication outlets, insurance companies and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
He said further:
"The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
has been disturbed by the recent hullabaloo over the cybersecurity levy
recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria which some unscrupulous
elements deliberately distorted by spreading false, unfounded and baseless
allegation that individual Nigerians were required to pay the cybersecurity
levy. This is a lie from the pit of Jahannam.
"According to Section 42(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2024 the
0.5% levy is actually meant for banks and other financial institutions,
telecommunication outlets, insurance companies and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Unfortunately those who have some axe to grind with the Tinubu administration
saw it as an opportunity to incite Nigerians against the Federal Government (FG).
That was why they spread the false information that individuals will have to
pay the cybersecurity levy. This is far from the truth.
"MURIC strongly condemns this
attempt to cause disaffection, distrust and pandemonium in the country using
misinformation, disinformation, provocation and outright incitement of
Nigerians against the Federal Government (FG). This action smirks of
desperation, recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of critics,
detractors, the opposition and any other group or groups that may be behind the
falsification.
"In particular, the disinformation embarked upon in the last
24 hours in which it was claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered
the discontinuation of the cybersecurity levy (https://dailypost.ng/2024/05/
"These actions are marks of a desperate opposition ready to
use all means, fair and foul, moral and immoral, legal and illegal, to get what
it wants, namely, to take over the reins of governance through unconstitutional
means.
"Like Niccolo Machiavelli, the Italian philosopher (1469 –
1527), those behind this disgraceful scheme believe that the end justifies the
means, including the needless and wasteful sacrifice of the lives of Nigerians
whose deaths are likely to guaranteeing ccur in the ensuing chaos.
"MURIC is not allergic to criticism if it is objective. It
adds luster to governance in a multiparty democracy. Criticism is acceptable so
long as it is constructive but what we are seeing these days from some members
of the opposition is archaic and bohemian.
"We warn Nigerians not to fall for these unconventional
manoeuvres. Those who instigate the citizens against a legitimate and
purposeful government through luciferous manipulations and rabid, hydrophobic
lies capable of making Joseph Goebbels (1897 – 1945, Adolf Hitler's
professional liar) turn in his grave are incapable of guaranteeing free speech,
mature and responsible leadership, transparency, probity and accountability if
Nigerians make the mistake of making them their leaders come 2027.
"Nigerians must reject anarchists and shameless liars.
The need for Nigerians to apply some caveat to the false propaganda
being rolled out by some elements in the opposition is sine qua non to a
healthy democratic heritage, a peaceful environment plus the attendant economic
growth and political stability.
"That caveat can be achieved through careful screening
and cross-checking of information to enable us separate the wheat from the
chaff, fake news from genuine information, liars and agent provocateur
from a truthful and responsible government.
“Just as the Glorious Qur’an warns Muslim faithfuls to beware of
bearers of false information, ‘If an ungodly person brings any news to you, you
must investigate its veracity so that your next action will not hurt the innocent
and you will regret that action’ (Qur’an 49:6), the Bible also implores Christians
to ‘Investigate all matters and hold on to that which is the truth’ (1
Thessalonians 5:21).
"Nobody can accuse this administration of docility or
nonchalance with regards to feeding Nigerians with necessary information
whenever necessary. Government's spokespersons always add their names to
government’s official statements. We therefore advise that Nigerians should
ignore all kinds of information purportedly coming from government but
which do not contain names of its spokespersons.
"Nigeria would have taken one big
step forward in information dissemination if the media would take the above
advise very seriously. It is lazy journalism if we fail to crosscheck
particularly when journalists have access to government’s spokespersons. We can
take professionalism in journalism to the level of global best practices."
#CybersecurityLevyNotForIndividuals
#StopIncitingNigerians
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
No comments:
Post a Comment