Hate speech threatens economy and development- Pat Utomi

Renowned political economist and Founder of Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) Prof. Pat Utomi has raised concern that Nigeria’s economy is under serious threat arising from hate speech by leading political and religious leaders in the country.
He added that unguarded statements by leaders across the country have strong potentials to push Nigeria over the cliff with serious consequences for the economic and political development of the country if the warring parties are not restrained from utterances that are capable of sowing seeds of discord in the polity.
Utomi’s concern was expressed in the Patito Gang panel discussion on ‘Hate Speech’ scheduled for broadcast on Channels’ Dstv network at 4:30pm on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Repeat broadcast is scheduled for Monday, July 10, 2017 at 8:30pm on domestic service of Channels Television.
The panel discussion reviewed volatile statements across the country and their implications for the unity of the country as well as consequences for the economic and political developments of Nigeria.
In addition, measures needed to arrest the deteriorating environment of unguarded statements by political and religious leaders across the country were proffered by the panelists.
Patito Gang is a weekly television programme that provides a platform for public conversation on issues of concern to the socio-political development of Nigeria. The anchor of the programme is Utomi.