Nollywood actor turned lawmaker, Desmond Elliot has said that he never called for the regulation of social media.
Recall that during the EndSARS protest in October 2020, the Lagos lawmaker received heavy backlash from Nigerians after he made a speech in the National Assembly saying social media should be regulated.
He described some of the users as ‘Children’ and also pleaded with Nigerian celebrities, social media influencers and motivational speakers to “tune down on the hate narrative.”
“We need to address certain things: Nigerian youth; the social media; the social influencers. All of these are making the narrative that we’re seeing today. Except we’re joking with ourselves, social media, yes though good has its negative impacts.
Please celebrities; please social media influencers, stop the hatred already. You have a means constitutionally to change the government; it’s called your PVC,” he said at the time.
However, in a recent interview with TVC Desmond Elliot denied claims that he called for the regulation of social media.
“Firstly, I was never against the influx of social media because the truth is constitutionally, you have a right to freedom of speech. So I have no problems with you having or talking or deliberating on social media.
If my saying something causes harm to the next person, especially when it is false, what should happen? Should we say because it is social media, let it go? I have no problems with social media. I don’t mind you saying anything, speaking, talking, dancing and saying whatever. I even think it is a relief form these days”. He said.
