The temperament of Nigerians is about to hit an all time high based on coordinated social media generated contents. The product of social media is fashioned by individuals or groups to present information to satisfy their mundane interests. Social media side to national issues is therefore gradually becoming an integral part of eruptions that has now become a characteristic of our national rumblings.
The start of social mediated news stories came with a bit of cur-and-paste, later minor distortions, latter it graduated to major calculated poisonous stories. Nigeria side of social mediated news continued to veer off the route toed by early citizen reporters who bounded themselves in 1988, United States of America general election. Then citizens resolved to tell the truth, short circuit the traditional media alleged for bias and half truth to tell the stories from an eye witness point of view. Curiously, Nigeria citizen journalists are telling the stories from the “interest” point of view.
The direction of social media operated citizen reporters is now channeled towards using prominent, respected Nigerians to “mouth” their own version of interest. Sadly, many Nigerians are not deep readers. Not all of them take their time to look at the media vehicle They take the concocted messages without contest.
Media vehicles are now sprouting up using names of credible media organizations to peddle falsehood. Sahara Reporters, Punch newspaper, Vanguard, premiumtimes, and many more credible media organizations have cloned accounts. These cloned accounts are used to gore Nigerians into shooting tantrums. They are used to whittle the mettle of their target victims socially, politically or economically.
Prominent Nigerians like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former President Goodluck Jonathan, President Muhammadu Buhari and a host of others have been victims of these phantom news channels who craft. The latest on the list of this social media hacks is the former governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
The former governor is known for his eloquence and boldness. He has been a bit quiet recently ostensibly to study the political environment, engage his own marshal plan to remain relevant politically, first by avoiding trouble. His antecedent as a great speaker appears to be his bane. Social media handles owned by paid citizen reporters have moved in on him.
Among series of stories forced down his throat are claims that he “carpeted” the administration of President Buhari on poor performance; That the All Progressive Congress (APC) is “Islamizing” Nigeria; that he cannot be probed by his successor on account of his godfather “General Abdulsalami Abubakar”; that the Biafran’s deserve to go on account of “injustice”.
The source of the recent onslaught packaged and delivered via myriads of social media news channels is not unconnected to those poised to use the image of the former governor to further there agitations. IgberekeTV, is allegedly linked to agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
It serves agitators of secessionist agenda loads to use a Northerner to discredit the administration of PMB. It suit their interest to also present Dr. Aliyu as author of an APC trying to Islamize Nigeria. To crown it all, it helps advocate for them that a Northern, well schooled and experienced in management of human and material, vast in workings of human political principle and practice to demand the break away of a Biafran Republic.
The next set of social media villains using the name of former governor Aliyu to state the affairs of their paymasters are those claiming he said former military Head of State, Abdulsalami is going to protect him from probe. Those behind that angle of report are interested in forcing a “witch-hunt” through provocative utterances pegged on his lips.
These group of people forgot that the former governor is indeed under investigation by the administration of his successor, Alhaji Abu Sani Bello. Investigations are information-gathering imperative of new administrations to verify facts and also to know where gaps are. Investigations can go any direction. If the government feel the past administration need to explain some grey areas, then a panel can be inaugurated to probe.
Social media censorship bill muted by senator Na’ala has been rejected with a slap on his wrist. Though he championed agitation for social media reform to avenge personal insult, it is indeed instructive to educate that the downward spiral of social media mischief will have costly negatives on Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence.
The way people or group of individuals are pegging people on stories they did not author is not only defamatory, distasteful and poisonous, but indeed a development akin to striking match in an octane saturated environment. Ordinary people are already being set up by social media bandits on coalition path with religion position of others.
Just after the ‘blasphemy’ deaths in Kano and Niger states, people are beginning to use people’s pictures to author negative statements against Islam. Their targets are not the only people at risk, but Christians living in places with zero tolerance on acts of religious blunders.
The social media lawlessness cannot be tolerated. It is supposed to be treated with same quantum of dosage with acts of terrorism. It is important to note that information spreads terror faster and that is exactly the customized conveyor some individuals have so pertinently sold their souls to unleash on Nigerians. Sadly many of our dear citizens are gullible readers.
Once the poisonous weapon of ‘mass confusion’ on social media is perfected, it becomes a weapon of mass destruction, which will fester with negative ripple effect. Then, like a hydra headed monster, it would be utterly out of control. The time to contain and detoxify the social media is now. We must jettison blind band wagon sentiments to address the malaise.
. Ebije can be reached via: ebije05@gmail.com or @ebijeisrael.
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