When leaders are believable, hate speech will die
 |
| Kukah and other participants at the colloquium |
–Prof
Odinkalu
By
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Fake
news and hate speech which have recently been entrenched in the polity, and threatening
the very existence of Nigeria has been blamed on the government.
news and hate speech which have recently been entrenched in the polity, and threatening
the very existence of Nigeria has been blamed on the government.
Professor
Chidi Odinkalu, one of the discussants at the colloquium organised by the Olusegun
Obasanjo Centre for African Studies (OOCAS) of National Open University of Nigeria
(NOUN) said Monday that fake news and hate speech will die a natural death if Nigerian
leaders are, honest, incorruptible, believable.
Chidi Odinkalu, one of the discussants at the colloquium organised by the Olusegun
Obasanjo Centre for African Studies (OOCAS) of National Open University of Nigeria
(NOUN) said Monday that fake news and hate speech will die a natural death if Nigerian
leaders are, honest, incorruptible, believable.
The colloquium was themed, “Fake news and hate
speech.’
speech.’
“When leaders tell lies, what do you do?
Government is the chief proponent of fake news,” he said.
Government is the chief proponent of fake news,” he said.
He
gave example of the vexed issued of Ruga Settlement when the government said
the policy was under the vice president but which Osinbajo denied.
gave example of the vexed issued of Ruga Settlement when the government said
the policy was under the vice president but which Osinbajo denied.
He
accused the governments of not using the Universal Basic Education fund for
what it is meant for, adding that the present fragility of the country which
has been divided along religious and ethnic lines was as a result of the dishonesty
of the elite or the political class in the country.
accused the governments of not using the Universal Basic Education fund for
what it is meant for, adding that the present fragility of the country which
has been divided along religious and ethnic lines was as a result of the dishonesty
of the elite or the political class in the country.
On
her part, Ms Funke Egbemode, a discussant said Nigeria is a country of unhappy
people, and that the leaders only want what works for them. She said in her
view, people should not use citizen journalism to justify fake news.
her part, Ms Funke Egbemode, a discussant said Nigeria is a country of unhappy
people, and that the leaders only want what works for them. She said in her
view, people should not use citizen journalism to justify fake news.
If
there are citizen journalists then where are the citizen engineers, doctors and
lawyers? She asked.
there are citizen journalists then where are the citizen engineers, doctors and
lawyers? She asked.
She
said fake news is spreading because the mainstream journalism has failed the
people.
said fake news is spreading because the mainstream journalism has failed the
people.
“The
watch dog is old, weak and dying. A hungry reporter cannot be an investigative
journalist.
watch dog is old, weak and dying. A hungry reporter cannot be an investigative
journalist.
“If
you don’t feed the dog it will bark and bite.”
you don’t feed the dog it will bark and bite.”
Looking at the topic from another perspective,
Dr Mailafiya said fake news and hate speech was not Nigeria’s most important and
biggest problem today, adding that some fake news and hate speeches are
relevant in the polity because people feel their views are not taken into
consideration, so vent them out in form of fake news and hate speeches. He also
accused government as being the biggest spreader of fake news.
Dr Mailafiya said fake news and hate speech was not Nigeria’s most important and
biggest problem today, adding that some fake news and hate speeches are
relevant in the polity because people feel their views are not taken into
consideration, so vent them out in form of fake news and hate speeches. He also
accused government as being the biggest spreader of fake news.
“Government
is the biggest purveyor of fake news,” he said, and gave the example of government’s handling of the suspended Ruga Settlement
issue. Though he said from time to time government tells lies in form of
propaganda, but stressed that the
biggest problem in the country now is insecurity.
is the biggest purveyor of fake news,” he said, and gave the example of government’s handling of the suspended Ruga Settlement
issue. Though he said from time to time government tells lies in form of
propaganda, but stressed that the
biggest problem in the country now is insecurity.
“Over
6000 people have been killed in the country and we are gathering here talking
of hate speech? Who is hating who?”
6000 people have been killed in the country and we are gathering here talking
of hate speech? Who is hating who?”
He
said it is unfortunate that Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the
world.
said it is unfortunate that Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the
world.
“More
than 13 million children are out of school, 24 million youths are unemployed
and we said we want to control fake news and hate speech?
than 13 million children are out of school, 24 million youths are unemployed
and we said we want to control fake news and hate speech?
“Whatever
you don’t want to hear is hate speech.”
you don’t want to hear is hate speech.”
In his key note address, Mr Ray Ekpu
stressed that junk or yellow journalism constitutes fake news. He said fake news
could be called misinformation, disinformation or malinformation.
stressed that junk or yellow journalism constitutes fake news. He said fake news
could be called misinformation, disinformation or malinformation.
He
said most people assumed that stories sent by their friends and relatives are
true.
said most people assumed that stories sent by their friends and relatives are
true.
He
stressed that politics, religion and ethnicity are the three drivers of fake
news in the country, adding that mobile phones, internet and youthful population
contribute to hate speech. He said more than half of Africans are below 20
years, and are internet active.
stressed that politics, religion and ethnicity are the three drivers of fake
news in the country, adding that mobile phones, internet and youthful population
contribute to hate speech. He said more than half of Africans are below 20
years, and are internet active.
He
argued that he does not believe in citizenship journalism because “There are
citizens but not citizen journalism.”
argued that he does not believe in citizenship journalism because “There are
citizens but not citizen journalism.”
Father Matthew Hassan Kukah, in his
speech said, Federal Ministry of Information should be scrapped because it
spread fake news in form of propaganda, adding that there is huge information
deficit that gives room to fake news.
speech said, Federal Ministry of Information should be scrapped because it
spread fake news in form of propaganda, adding that there is huge information
deficit that gives room to fake news.
He
said hate speech could be viewed from different perspectives, and for him as a Catholic
priest, the story of Cain and Abel was enmeshed in hate speech.
said hate speech could be viewed from different perspectives, and for him as a Catholic
priest, the story of Cain and Abel was enmeshed in hate speech.
“Hate
speech was firstly broken by Cain. When Cain was asked where his brother Abel
was, he replied, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’”
speech was firstly broken by Cain. When Cain was asked where his brother Abel
was, he replied, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’”
He
gave example of his international passport which people told him was a Fulani passport
because there was the picture of Fulani and cattle in it. The information
however overlooked the pictures of Tiv and other ethnic groups in it.
gave example of his international passport which people told him was a Fulani passport
because there was the picture of Fulani and cattle in it. The information
however overlooked the pictures of Tiv and other ethnic groups in it.
He
said since 1999 Nigeria has been discussing some national issues without headway.
said since 1999 Nigeria has been discussing some national issues without headway.
“A
country that is multidimensional and multicultural should not be where we find
ourselves today.
country that is multidimensional and multicultural should not be where we find
ourselves today.
“We
must all be gate keepers in order to publish authentic news. We must trust
those we assign to write articles, though fake news has intellectual
legitimacy.
must all be gate keepers in order to publish authentic news. We must trust
those we assign to write articles, though fake news has intellectual
legitimacy.
“We
make mistake to believe that everybody subscribe to democracy.
make mistake to believe that everybody subscribe to democracy.
“We
must have a country that is believable.”
must have a country that is believable.”