By Zik Gbemre

It breaks our hearts every time we see Nigerians, especially Nigerian Politicians and their often ‘paid writers’, spend valuable manhours, energy and resources on print and electronic media platforms, arguing and discussing on irrelevant ‘issues’ going on the polity, which would not add any iota of value, or change/address the pressing problems/needs daily plaguing the lives of majority of Nigerian citizenry. Rather than focus squarely on originating issues of national discuss, proffering advice, and spreading same – that would primarily aim at addressing all the anomalies that we see wrong in our society which would be in the general interest of the Nigerian people. Even as critics, it is expected that one’s criticisms should be constructive and aimed at addressing an identified problem, and not aimed at castigating and destroying the public’s perception of a supposed opposition.

When will Nigerian politicians in particular, and their paid writers, stop the politics of bitterness and blackmail? Why don’t we focus our energies on useful politicking and raising issues that requires national attention for the benefit of all and sundry? When will Nigerian politicians grow up and stop paying writers to blackmail their supposed political opponents with unreasonable stories? Like we said above, criticism is good, but it must be constructive and focused genuinely to promote economic growth and overall development of Nigeria. The idea of paying people to run down public officials should stop because it is not helping us as a people and as a nation. And these paid writers should engage on useful economic activities to make a living and add to national growth and development, rather than be agents of destruction.

It is really sad that as a developing nation with myriads of problems, we are still busy chasing after shadows and unimportant issues that would not bring about the needed change, we all so desire in our society. While the BBC is busy exposing what is going wrong in our Nigerian Universities, most of Nigerian paid writers/journalists are busy spreading rumours, looking for a new wife for President Muhammadu Buahri and arranging the wedding on their own. While we were busy in tv-viewing pleasure, and fighting over who gets crowned BBnaija; 152 million Nigerians reportedly spent N7.2Billion on votes; in a country where such money could have been channeled to good use to addressing a pressing need. You needed to see Nigerians abusing, arguing and fighting one another online over their supposed favorite Housemates in the said tv reality show. While we have been busy taking two steps forward and three steps backwards, other nations like Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, India, etc. that started this developmental race together with us, have all gone far light years ahead of us. Yet, in the midst of this, some people are still busy originating, instigating and spreading stories that are best described as ‘tales by moonlight’, while others of the same stock, only collect brown envelopes before they are motivated to still write and spread stories/issues that would not address any developmental issue affecting everyone of us.

This was how some months ago, they originated a story to suggests that the President Buhari in Aso Rock is not real, but one supposed imaginary Jubril from Sudan. Then there was the fake news and rumours of Buhari’s death. And now, they say President Buhari is marrying another wife, who they claim is Sadia Umar Farouq, the current Minister for Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management. This was the latest series of fake news and stories being spread, which they claimed it was as a result of President Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buahri’s long absence in the country. Not until Aisha Buhari recently returned back into the country from UK, where she was reported to have gone for medical leave, and to attend to her family’s Homefront needs; that was when all the stories being paddled earlier automatically died down. We also believe it is also nobody’s business of whatever that is happening between President Buhari and his wife. That is a private issue that can only be addressed by the two married couples, and not the business of Nigerians. Besides, there are far important issues that requires daily attention, and not the private Homefront issues of President Buhari. If Buhari decides to marry more wives, aside the fact that his religion allows him to do so, how is that my concern? How will that change the current deplorable narrative in the polity as regards development? Also, why should I spread rumours of death on Buhari, just because I do not belong to his party, or I am paid to run him down? It practically makes no sense!

While we are not here to speak for, or on behalf of President Buhari and his wife or administration, it is crystal clear for anyone to see that all these stories/rumours being peddled around media platforms and spread around by most Nigerians, are all aimed at creating confusion in the polity by the political opponents of Mr. President. Agreed that President Buhari has his own serious flaws as the country’s number one citizen, and there are so many issues he has not done right as President, most of which we have pinpointed against his administration and proffered solutions for in several articles/letters/write-ups, however, it should not result to some paid writers to start originating and spreading rumours that are unfounded, and which will not address the many problems facing us as a nation. Or even wishing him death, as we have witnessed some time ago in media platforms. These are not acts that should be considered as noble and patriotic as a people.

There are genuine issues to criticize about in President Buhari’s APC-led administration, including the fact that they are still going abroad for medical checkups when the Government could actually invest heavily in the country’s health sector so we can have such medical facilities they are seeking for abroad, here in the country. But not by spreading unfounded stories primarily intended to run down President Buhari as a person, and his family. Why should a writer decide to earn a living, by taking the occupation of running down political opponents and their families? Politics and activism via NGOs should not be an occupation. A situation where a supposed educated man takes up to politics and activism via an NGO, as an occupation, it is bad. This is because all they do is to ‘manufacture/originate’ packs of lies just to tarnish the public image and character of opposition politicians and their perceived opponents. And of course, I personally criticize public officials. But I only criticize them for ‘not doing what is right’ – as seen by the majority of the masses.

Nigerian elites should live upright and engage in constructive politics and activism, and not this nonsense they are doing. Some of these paid writers/supposed-activists, will even approach political office holders/public figures to demand that they should be appointed by them as supposed Media Advisers or Executives Media Adviser. They even put up a price, plus fringe benefits like a jeep, as part of the conditions for them to be appointed. If not, they will write against the said politicians. These paid writers/supposed activists are usually quickly bought over by other politicians who may want to use them to write against their political opponents. But for how long will these kinds of people do all of this just to earn a living? Why going from one politician to another looking for political opponents to write against? I was told of how one such paid writer/supposed activist/lawyer, met a politician and demanded to be paid N3million in a month, with a Toyota Prado jeep, and be appointed as his Media Adviser. But as the politician refused his demands, the said supposed activist/paid writer/lawyer was bought over by another politician. And he has already started writing against the other politician who refused to give in to his demands. What do we call this? Is this not criminality?
Zik Gbemre.
October 14, 2019

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