By Sani Danaudi Mohammed
The role of the Social Media cannot be overemphasize considering the number of Young populations that engage themselves on this platforms.The number of smartphone users in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country, is forecast to grow to more than 140 million by 2025. Currently, estimates from different sources put the number of smartphone users in Nigeria at roughly 25 and 40 million. The exact number of users is hard to pin down,However, the data available shows a strong growth outlook for the Nigerian smartphone market with user numbers to at least triple within the next five to six years.
The Social media’s influence on elections was evident in the early 2000.The first African-American black President,Barack Obama harnessed social media in his first presidential campaign to rally a majority of voters and win the 2008 election.Around 74% of internet users sought election news online during Obama’s first campaign, representing 55% of the entire adult population at the time, according to Pew Research Center.Savvy leaders have often leveraged new media to influence politics. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s adoption of the radio and John F. Kennedy’s use of television bridged communication gaps between politicians and the public to great political success.
In 2014,when Muhammadu Buhari started campaigning, again, to become Nigeria’s president, he opened accounts on Twitter and Facebook to supposedly ‘engage the populace’ using tech communication tools, following comments from the then ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), labelling him a “semi-literate jackboot”.On the 22nd December to be precise,His first tweet read“Good afternoon my friends! This will now be my official Twitter handle to communicate with you,-GMB.This mark the beginning of regrouping and mobilisation of young Nigerians to take the message of change to the rural dwellers particularly those of voting ages.
As globalization continue to sweep the world of the 21st century,The Social is now a dominant platform of sending messages by politicians and within a second, millions will have access and lay their hands to such information.In Nigeria for example,there is no politician that does not own at least a social media account in his name. It is evident that the major Presidential Candidates today in Nigeria are channeling and are diverting so huge resources to social media campaigns due to their understanding how social media influences elections.
Unfortunately, these young men and women who engaged in this kind of Social media activities have been reduced to 22st Century Political thugs,Instead of preaching the intending policies and programs of their candidates.Though, Most of these social media hawkers are propagating these politicians without any formal engagement or agreement but are doing it out of passion to propagate and promote their aspirations for a reward of the monthly allocation of data and a token. Many have been jailed for different Social crimes like propagation of lies against the opponents of their preferred Candidates.
If use judiciously,It would be an epicenter of selling candidates with capacity and competency to deliver and guide the voters on the right direction during elections.
The sad reality is that ,It is now becoming a tool and agent of destruction of our norms and values built for decades along our religion, cultural, regional and tribal diversities.Wicked is the assertions that these helpless Youths who are making these sacrifices are left at the mercy of God by those politicians who hardly see them beyond been their Social media agents. In the North,They are popularly called “Yan Kare muradu” ( Protecting agents of the politicians).This is the level to which most of our gallant Youths have been reduced to instead of preparing them for the leadership roles in the nearest future.
It is high time those who have taken Social media as a means of survival to seek formal engagement and agreements with those they are projecting, marketing and advertising.It is obvious that wasting their precious time, resources,talent and energy on in returns of nothing is not the best option.The recent outburst by “Arewa APC Media Influencers” led by Rabiu Ali Biyora and my friend Khalid Ibrahim Angale to disassociate themselves from one of the major Presidential Candidate and Former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu is a step in a right direction.
This is coming a week after the APC flagged off its Presidential Campaign rally in Jos but to the surprised of these Media Influencers none was officially invited.All they are saying is that ,they deserve formal recognition and engagement like the part is doing to some group of Kanywood “13,13” led by the popular APC Political singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara. Bashir Abdullahi El-bash has draw the attention of the Social Media Influencers not only that of his party (APC) but across boards to shift grounds and redefine their future or end up as slaves even as graduates.
In a similar development, About a month ago, another People Democratic Party social media influencer Daure David from Bauchi State raised concerns in a video that has gone viral on how they are been used by some stakeholders in the party in reward of nothing. This seem be the real picture of events in all stratas of the political camps of these political parties.Though,The Youths are to be blamed for volunteering to market them and serve them free of charge.We may hold divergent views with Rarara but he said something that was very instructive on his decision to support Tinubu/APC at the top but Sha’aban Sharada at the bottom.
According to him,If they Market these politicians, Why not present themselves and market themselves?.This where he thinks millions times than the degree holders who have reduced themselves to mere camera men to these politicians without presenting their demands.Rarara has won it for his group and that is why they are been accorded a first treatment even when their work is less compare to the Social Media Influencers. Naziru Sarkin Waka is enjoying same treatment in the PDP as against the Media boys whose works seem valueless,if it is woth recognition,such gestures would have been extended to them.
To join this league of young people,I have been advocate of Youths active inclusion in Government and Governance as there is nothing these politicians can do that is not worth doing by the energetic young Nigerians.It is opportunity and privileges that making them to see themselves as larger than life.The only reward for been a social agent is creating more enemies than friends, loosing moral respect and focus while spending time to defend the undefendable with your conscience.In addition,Bill should be introduced to checkmate the activities of internet falsehood and information manipulations that has caused many conflicts in this country.Unless the Youths are able to organize themselves and turn to a new leaves ,they will continue to be mortgage by these political elites in reward of an Android phone and monthly data allocation.The concerns raised must be address otherwise and let formal engagement be the way out otherwise the future of the Social Media Influencers in both political parties is in jeopardy.
I am Media man in my own right and an analyst but not a social media agent of any Politician.If it may,then it must be a formal agreement and engagement.
Danaudi, National President of Arewa Youths advocate for Peace and Unity Initiative, Writes from Bauchi via danaudicomrade@gmail.com.
