I often hear Politicians, themselves, saying the arena stinks. If it does stink, nobody smells the stink without the help of the media. But then, the media also stinks. That is why it is all so easy to spread the stink all around. Worst of all, however, is the social media. This one is full of smelly dung. Rotten dung. And it is what they spread all over. Hence, the society gets messy, smelly and looking nasty at all times.
Young men and young Women in Nigeria are almost obsessed with the social media. In our dear Zamfara state, young men and young women are so vibrant that no one can escape getting involved in their daily activities on the net. They blow hot, and they blow cold. It is an era of extreme battle of wits. In the process, the nice language is used, the bad language is used and the dirty and nasty are also used very freely to express inert opinions and borrowed opinions Mostly on politics.
Incidentally, Zamfara state has been lately, blessed with a fertile ground to be nice and also to be nasty. An inglorious administration that plunged the state into an unprecedented turmoil was unexpectedly catapulted to nothingness and a government so viewed with mixed reactions was zoomed into a blaze of glory. As expected, the unexpected losers will breeze out venom and the winners will woo the people. And that’s the scenario in our dear state of late.
The administration of Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) was however, calm in glory and was thankful by trying to address the ills it promised to tackle. The losers who torched the fire of hell for years remain thankless and tried all the time to deny the people this rare opportunity to piece together what remains of their life long beaten down by incessant banditry, mayhem and death. The conventional media, having retained most of its decorum, denied them the chance. But their hawks in the social media freely display their hatred for the people Zamfara state by trying at all times to demean the administration of Bello Matawalle.
Yes, Zamfarans are at all times greatful to the present administration for many reasons. First, it decisively brought to an end the callous theater of death across the state. Secondly, it opened up the economic activities of the people to blossom. Thirdly, It began the process of reconciliation and harmony. Fourthly, it began social intervention to let the people pick up some of their lives back. It also embarked on developmental projects to bring home the dividends of democracy.
Most of the people who speak up commended the humility of His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad. He attends local functions contrary to the arrogance they used to endure from previous leadership in the state. He quickly responds to complaints whenever such is brought to his attention. There is hardly any complaint made which His Excellency will not address with immediacy. These are what anger the losers. They have abused and lost their chances, so they turn to abuse him silly in the social media. But he remains calm and does not reply a barking dog with another bark
That is why all well meaning Nigerians will support the National Assembly in its latest attempt to regulate the use of the social media. Hate speech is not a right. It cannot be a privilege either. It is an aberration. It must be fought with vigour. Men with decorum get beaten down when they go through some of the commentaries some Zamfara social media activists subject innocent people by fiat of their pay masters; or report nasty lies made by their pay masters, most especially the grand lies and concocted mischief against the person of His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad or his administration.
We have seen much. We have heard much. And much is still ongoing. It is not in our character to be nasty. But we are in support of silencing nasty people. It is time to regulate the social media. It’s is a task that just be accomplished.
Zailani Bappa is a media aide to Zamfara state Governor
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
