Lekki Massacre: Desmond Elliot Denies Sponsoring A Bill To Regulate Social Media [Video]

Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, has denied that he is pushing for a bill to regulate social media activities.

In a video posted on his Instagram page, Desmond Elliot was reacting to a post from a Twitter user, Dr Olufunmilayo, who said the social media bill is aimed at shutting down any circulation of videos and pictures from the Lekki Toll Gate massacre, which happened on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

However, the actor turned politician described the reports as “unfounded”, adding that it was not in the jurisdiction of the state government to pass such a bill.

“Good evening. My name is Desmond Elliot. I just came out of a plenary sitting at the House of Assembly and before we finished, Dr Olufimilayo tweeted saying. ‘The Lagos State House of Assembly is developing a bill to regulate and control speech on social media and Desmond Elliot is said to be one of those pushing this. So the plan is to deny the Lekki massacre.’

“Please, I beg of you, I beg us and everyone. This is not true, it is totally unfounded. Dr Olufunmilayo, why don’t you even verify? Aren’t we going through a lot already? It is not true, period. No State House of Assembly has the jurisdiction to pass any bill like this, it is not possible. It simply lies on the exclusive list on the federal level. You can’t. Every member has a right to say something but you can’t.”

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

“The only thing I said towards social media was that the celebrities, social influencers and motivational speakers should know we have followers so we should please cut down on the hate narrative. Everyone is going through so much right now.”

To emphasis his point, Elliot further captioned the video, “I never said that. No bill to that effect. No house of Assembly can develop such a bill.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Desmond Elliott (@desmondelliot)

In a swift response to the law maker’s video, Dr Olufunmilayo told Elliot to, “please release to the world what you said about celebs and influencers.”

“Dear Desmond Elliot, thanks for your quick correction. In the spirit of honesty and transparency, can you please release to the world what you said about celebs and influencers, can you also let the whole world see the video of what you said about social media regulation? Thanks.

“On today’s plenary session, I have reliable information Desmond Elliot blamed celebs/influencers for the carnage and went ahead to advocate social media regulation bill. The link to the video is http://lagoshouseofassembly.gov.ng/live/ It has been tampered with. Can they pls release the video?”

Dear Desmond Elliot
Thanks for your quick correction.

In the spirit of honesty and transparency, can you please release to the world what you said about celebs and influencers, can you also let the whole world see the video of what you said about social media regulation?

Thanks

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) October 26, 2020

Dear Desmond Elliot,
If the State House of Assembly have no powers on social media regulation, then why bring it up at plenary? Why advocate for something you have no powers over, as a lawmaker?

Why blame celebs/influencers for saying what everybody saw but govt wants to cover?

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) October 26, 2020

Dear Desmond Elliot
This is not a fight. Or a quarrel.
It’s a very simple logic.

•Why did you accuse celebs/influencers of “hate speech” today?
•Why did you advocate SM regulation if you have no powers as a state lawmaker?
•Why is the video evidence now gone from the website?

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) October 26, 2020

By the way
Hope you guys saw the speed at which Desmond Elliot responded to my tweet- despite the fact that he did indeed truly advocate a social media control and attacked celebs/influencers-

Did you see the speed?
Always learn to speak up.
Give these people no breathing space.

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) October 26, 2020

And to those of you who are “naive”,
When lawmakers like Desmond Elliot say things like “cut down on the hate speech”, they are telling you to stop talking about the Lekki Massacre and the shooting by soldiers.

To them it never happened.

You know how we respond?
WE SHOUT MORE!

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) October 26, 2020

KanyiDaily recalls that Desmond Elliot had also openly declared that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu is his godfather.