Friday, 3 August 2012

Senator Mark and the call for social media censorship


By Aliyu Musa

Last week Senate President David Mark stirred yet another controversy when he revealed his plan to initiate a legislation that would censor social media users in the country. His main grouse against them is that they use it as a platform for mortifying their leaders and that it does not offer an opportunity to retract stories.

During his third Presidential Media Chat in June, I recall, President Goodluck Jonathan equally accused the social media of being behind the poor public perception of his government. So, Senator Mark is not the first top politician in the country to voice out the frustration of the political class with a strand of the media that appears too liberated and too easily accessible.

I have posited quite a few times that the new media has its problems. But censorship as the Senate President is wont to have to it would not solve any of the problems. His argument that people use it as a means of demeaning their leaders is as bizarre as the position of President Jonathan that it contributes to the problems his government currently faces and/or his lack lustre performance since assuming the office of Nigeria’s president.

Leaders that keep their pre-election promises and justly deal with their people need not fear criticism. They should rather welcome diverse opinions including those critical of their leadership and learn to improve.

His point that the social media does not allow for stories to be retracted should not warrant censorship. Instead, fair rules that would encourage responsible use could be introduced without unnecessarily targeting those criticising politicians. If rules are properly initiated people would be more cautious of what they write about or circulate.

Senator Mark also advised Nigerian journalists to emulate their foreign counterparts by refraining from negatively portraying the country. Perhaps, we’ll need to compare the situation in Nigeria to the ones in those countries he was referring to so as to understand why, if he was right, their citizens positively portray them in the media.

It might help if the Senate president and other politicians ask themselves whether the conditions in those countries are as appalling as those in Nigeria. Perhaps, a few sincere answers would help them to appreciate why the people are so angry with them and use the social media to vent their frustrations.

In Nigeria, life has completely diminished in value; the ordinary people are the real victims. While they die in their thousands politicians fortify their homes to ward off armed robbers, kidnappers, would-be suicide bombers and other likely threats.

In the midst of scores of millions wallowing in absolute poverty is a handful of superrich politicians, one of whom Senator Mark is, that take home outrageous salaries at the end of each month. Yet they can hardly pay a minimum wage of N18000. This is excluding all the allowances and special benefits they apportion themselves.

A few decades ago our schools and universities were rated among the best in world. But today certificates from Nigerian institutions are no better than rejects abroad because of the poor quality education those holding them acquire. Power supply remains as erratic as ever, just as our hospitals are certified mortuaries and our roads death traps. It is clear that Nigerians are unendingly deprived of even the basic infrastructures citizens of much smaller and poorer countries enjoy. Yet Senator Mark expects them to use the social media to shower their failed leaders with praises.

Asked during the media chat why he was yet to visit Maiduguri and Damaturu to personally assess the situations there, President Jonathan responded that the airports were poorly maintained and, therefore, not fit for his plane to land. Should such a weird excuse come from a country’s president?

Why should Nigerians not call their leaders names given all this irritating show of lukewarm? Why should Nigerians not criticise leaders that would look the other way while a handful of so-called untouchables are looting the country dry? Why should Nigerians not call leaders who would allocate more money to the maintenance of their gardens than millions of their countrymen would ever see in their entire lifetime derogatory names?

Senator David Mark and his colleagues should focus more energy on making life more bearable for Nigerians and stop worrying about the social media and criticisms. The social media is the least of all worries at present and muffling this voice would not solve any of the problems urgently needing attention.

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