Between governor Namadi and Jigawa social media

By Adamu Muh’d Usman

The social media or ‘new media’ as it is called in other way is playing a crucial role in the polity and politics of Jigawa state. The rate of use and awareness in the use and utilization of social media among Jigawa citizen is amazing. Local people use the social media to participate in governance debate and discus crucial issues. In fact, the Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi (FCA) a .k a Dan modi should be aware that the Jigawa people scrutinizes and scores his government via the social media platforms. This is healthy for the democratic network as well as a good source for the government to get unbiased feedback from the populace and evaluate it

As a media practitioner and one who served as a special adviser (S.A) on media to former Jigawa state governor, Dr. Sule Lamido (CON), I am very enthusiastic on how local people use the social media, because Nigeria constitution guarantees the freedom of expression and in democracy; the media plays a vital and indispensable role in creating, educating, motivating, molding, entertaining and reflecting public views/opinion.

There was a survey conducted on social media (New Media) in 2015 by the electronics and print media, Jigawa state emerged the first and the most used social media in the country and it is the state that its people follow or are aware of government activities.

This has encourage awareness and participation of Jigawa leader, Dr. Sule Lamido in the media because Lamido is the most friendly media governor then and now the most friendly, consistent and participating media Nigerian politician in the country but recent development in Jigawa State confirmed that, the people, especially the young generation on social media, (Facebook) are little over optimistic about the peace accord as the state, reputed in being daily thrown into on orgy of fear of unknown attribute or arising from the activities of sponsored immature political facebookers, uncultured social media activities, uneducated political supporters, unorganized political followers, ignorant bloggers, inexperienced writers, and uncivilized commentators Etc.

The young/men engage on insult, abuses, mockery, blackmails, portraying one another in a bad light, making baseless allegation, creating unfounded stories, make then hate one another and creating confusion and chaos to the public. And be it may, the operators are at the receiving end. Please where are the norms? The religious injunctions? Cultural heritage? Social values? Political awareness? Moral ethics? Humanitarian affection? Societal orientation and togetherness?

This unduly acts in not healthy for a fragile position of our state Jigawa. We are gradually losing toga of harmonious living of peace co-existence, political stability and societal development placed on our dear state due to the activities of power seeking, money mongers and those want to be relevant in the corridor of politics and power

To this regard, I want remind and appeal to governor Namadi since in party standard in Jigawa APC and governance (power) in totality in the state he is a leader to ask the state assembly to enact law that prohibits hate speech, disrespectful and uncultured use of social media across the state.

Also government should employ traditional rulers, religious leaders and community associations to quarry, intervene, and to prevent continuation of these act.

The government should also collaborate with the law enforcement agencies to halt or calm the situation. The government should urge the youth to help the situation by refusing to be used.

The youth should try to be responsible citizen because they are the future generation and tomorrow they are the ones to hold the mantle of leadership of this country God willing.

Please, say No to insults, say No to abuses, Say no to baseless allegations, say No to unfounded stories, say No to blackmail, say No to mockery, Say No to drugs abuse, say No to political thugs. Pray and make a move for a peaceful, progressive, productive and a united Jigawa.

Lastly, we should remember with the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). “Oh Allah bless your servant who speaks and his word benefits him or keeps silence and his silence saves him from danger and going astray” (Silsalatul Sahiha 855)

Chinua Achebe ones said, “A man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself”.

Bear in mind that four things you cannot recover in life are; “The word after it is said; the moment after in missed, the time after it in gone and opportunity when it in lost.

With the present controversial bill of death penalty on the hate speech offenders, one needs to control his tongue and mind his language. Because tongue has the power of everything, Tongue can make you laugh or cry, tongue can unite and disunite, tongue can build and destroy, tongue ruined relationships and many marriages, tongue has caused misunderstanding, quarrel, disputes and even wars. A word is enough for a wise.

Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa Jigawa state.