Social Media Bill: Desmond Elliot Debunks Claim

Nollywood actor cum politician, Desmond Elliot has denied the claims that he’s pushing for the regulation of social media activities.

Earlier on Monday, October 26, 2020, Twitter was agog with tweeps claiming that the Lagos Assembly is working on a bill to control the use of social media.

According to the Twitter users, the end product of the rumoured bill was to water down the onslaught at Lekki Tollgate, in which scores of people lost their lives, while others were sustained life-threatening injuries.

Reacting to the rumour, the 46-year-old actor explained that the Lagos State Assembly doesn’t have the legislative power to debate a bill of such.

Elliot clarified that his remarks, which were misconstrued, were directed at celebrities and social media influencers not to escalate tension in the country.

He said: “We just came out of a sitting at the statehouse of Assembly and just before we finished, we learnt that one Dr Oluwafunmilayo tweeted, saying ‘the Lagos State House of Assembly is developing a bill to regulate and control speech on social media . Desmond Elliot is said to be one of those pushing this. So the plan is to deny the Lekki massacre and then start arresting anyone.’

“Please I beg everyone, this is not true, this is totally unfounded, Dr. Olufunmilayo! Why don’t you even verify? Aren’t we going through a lot already? It’s not true, period!

“No State House of Assembly has the jurisdiction to deliberate or pass anything. It’s not possible. It simply lies on the exclusive list; it’s from the federal level.

“Although, every member has a right  to say something; here, you can’t and the only thing I said towards social media was to the celebrities, social media influencers, and motivational speakers. I said listen! We have followers, you have followers, please, can we cut down on the hate narrative…”