Some years ago, Nigerians welcomed the advent of social media as channels of communication and information. It was invented to speedy dissemination of information and to promote effective communication. As good as it is, Nigerians have speedily turned it to rumour mill and a means of promoting and propagating hate speeches, lies, misinformation, divisive politics and propaganda. Mischievous Nigerians have also latched on its non-regulation by any agency to abuse it to the detriment of the peaceful co-existence of the country.
That is why today almost every Nigerian is either a blogger or an online journalist, without a clear identity or particular address. All it requires is for one to get a Chinese handset, recharge date, sit down in the comfort of a home to be fabricating lies and sending out on the social media platforms undisturbed.
They are always handy to be hired by politicians or any other persons to blackmail and demonise their perceived enemies without being tracked or traced. Many Nigerians, being gullible and lazy researchers and readers, usually rely social media platforms as news to form opinions. This is even when it is a basic rule in information dissemination that the sources of information are more important and credible than information itself. But who cares especially when some Nigerians for reasons best known to them have decided to replace credible news with rumour mongering and hate speeches?
This was exactly what happened in Enugu recently after the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Morteza Rahimi Zarchi, spoke at the Government House, Enugu, during a courtesy call on the governor. He stated that he was in Enugu to see to the feasibility of establishing an Iranian Hospital, modeled after the one in Dubai, at the ongoing Heliu Residences Project in Enugu. The governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in his response said that his administration is fully committed to the sustenance of an environment that is conducive for businesses and other developmental initiatives in the state, as well as necessary legislations, institutional frameworks, favourable tax regime amongst others.
As a background, a private firm, FIT Consult Ltd, developing the Heliu Residences project in Enugu had invited the diplomat to the state to undertake a feasibility study of establishing an Iranian Hospital, modeled after the one in Dubai at the ongoing estate. The ambassador while in Enugu paid a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu, where he informed the governor of his mission to the state. At the meeting, no MOU was signed and no bilateral agreement was reached.
With this, which happened in the broad daylight and covered by the print and broadcast media, some hired elements operating on social media platforms twisted the event by alleging that Enugu State government signed bilateral agreement with the Iranian government to build a world class hospital in the state as a step to Islamise the region!
What a failed attempt to mislead and pitch the people of the state against the governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who has not only provided leadership, but has provided enabling environment for the peace that is attracting investors. But this is not unexpected as more of it will come, especially as 2019 elections are drawing nearer.
It would be recalled that on assumption of office, Ugwuanyi’s government organised an investment summit where the economic potentials of the state was showcased to the world. Since then, investors across the country and outside have seen the state as a destination because of its peaceful and friendly environment.
From the above scenario in Enugu, the questions are – where did the Enugu State governor go wrong in welcoming the Iranian Ambassador that was brought to the state by a private estate developer? When has it become an offence for a governor to assure an investor of enabling environment to operate? Does the state government have any power to stop private investors from attracting partners from outside the country? This is especially when such investors have received clean bill of health from the relevant security agencies.
The problem is that Nigerians have failed to realise the limit of politics. Politicising developments is one of the major hindrances to rapid development and Nigeria is not an exception. The Enugu event reminds one of when the idea of Islamic Bank was initially mooted during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and some people kicked against it, expressing fear that the country will be Islamised through it. All sorts of rumours and propaganda were peddled to frustrate the establishment of the bank in Nigeria. But President Jonathan saw beyond the sentiments and emotions being bandied by some people and gave the order for the licensing of the bank which is today known as Jaiz Bank.
Delivering a keynote address at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt in August 2011 on the topic titled: “Sustaining an Enduring Democracy in Nigeria,” Nobel Laureate, Prof Soyinka said the fears that greeted the proposed Islamic banking were unnecessary, as long as the proposition does not contravene the law”. He said laws do exist in the banking sector, even as he said the country can practise any form of banking as long as such practice does not go against extant rules and regulations in the land. He also said the proposed Islamic banking which exists in other climes should not be an issue because it was not responsible for the scores of developments that have dragged the Nigeria backwards, including the Niger Delta crisis, the Boko Haram or the epileptic power supply the country was experiencing over the years.
“Does the entry of Islamic banking contravene the law? Why is it much of an issue and attracting inflammatory?”
Today many state governments have taken and still taking lower interest loans from the Jaiz Bank to develop their states. None of those who kicked against its establishment is kicking against getting loans from the bank at lower interest rate for development. Who knows if after building the worldclass hospital in Enugu, the Iranian government and its Nigerian investor will employ Nigerians as workers and provide healthcare services at affordable rates. This cannot be ruled out, what happened in Jaiz Bank.
- Ude, wrote from Amokwe,Udi, Enugu State.
