OPINION: Internet Thugs on the Offensive As Rhythm of Electioneering Drum Beat Changes
By Isaac Asabor
Whenever the phrase “Political Thugs” is mentioned, particularly in time like this when Edolites are in high expectations from the governorship election that is scheduled to hold on September 19, 2020 across the 18 local governments of Edo State, the images which the phrase instantly conjure are usually reminiscent of some young men that have the predilection to engage in political violence in the similitude of assassinations, armed clashes between them and opposing gangs hired by unscrupulous politicians. They readily engage in violence whenever they are paid by politicians and party leaders to attack their sponsors’ rivals, intimidate members of the public, rig elections, and protect their patrons from similar attacks. They are literarily wired to do dirty jobs during campaigns, and serve as the perfect foil to intimidate opponents and their supporters.
But oftentimes, things don’t work out as they mischievously planned as the long arm of the law usually catches up with them.
There is no denying the fact that political history recorded most elections conducted in the State in past electoral dispensations, and stated that some of the polling stations and campaign venues across the 192 wards in the State were characterized by violence as unscrupulous politicians were observed to have misled the State’s pool of unemployed youths to criminally back their unconscionable political ambitions.
However, with advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the way and manner thuggery is carried out is definitely changing. As it appears, thugs are now better supplied with laptops, smart phones and internet connections besides machetes, missiles and matches. No thanks to unscrupulous and belligerent politicians! They erroneously think that winning election is all about engaging their hirelings to do dirty jobs for them. Given the rate at which political cyber bullying is by each passing occurring on virtual space, it is not an exaggeration to say that the nefarious act of thuggery has gone digital and has remained on the offensive.
As every Edolites warm up to support their preferred candidate among the 14 aspirants ahead of the 2020 gubernatorial election in the State, there indications that some internet hirelings are offensively doing dirty jobs for their pay masters as the rate at which they insult fellow internet users online is becoming unbearable. Some of them are no doubt on the loose harassing, intimidating, persecuting and calling their employer’s opponents all manners of unprintable names, uploading unverifiable footages to intimidate or shame the opponents of their respective sponsors. Against the backdrop of the foregoing cyber challenge, little wonder an anonymous author said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” However, the quote is appears to be meaningless as it does not apply in the worlds of Internet technology, where false, hurtful or humiliating comments can go viral and global in just seconds.
The fact cannot be pooh-poohed that new media have in the recent time been playing an increasingly dominant role in Nigerian nay Edo elections. While television, radio, newspapers and magazines remain the main source of election, collective source of information for a wide demographic segment of the electorates, digital communication platforms have become prominent. New media have triggered changes in the campaign strategies of political parties, candidates, and political organizations thereby reshaping election media coverage and influencing voter engagement.
There are clear evidences that new technologies are fast transforming the campaign media system and in the process have been altering the ways in which campaigns are carried out by candidates, reported on by journalists, and experienced by voters. New campaign media have proliferated and become increasingly prominent with each passing election.
At this juncture, it is expedient to urge all the 14 gubernatorial aspirants that will be participating in the upcoming election on September 19 across the state to call their supporters to order, and literately draw their ears.
For the sake of clarity, “What is internet thuggery?” It is simply synonymous with Cyber bullying which is the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is a repeated behavior, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted.
Viewed from the foregoing context, “Internet Thuggery” cut across spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos of someone on social media, and sending hurtful messages or threats through messaging platforms as well as impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf.
But have politicians and their supporters ever stopped to ponder over how this rhetoric is affecting the young ones in the State? They are hearing and internalizing a lot more than most of we adults could realize they are, and when the political speeches contain bullying and inflammatory language, they can have a negative impact on the youths on what electioneering and elections are all about. Since electioneering commenced, I have heard youths scream in the similitude of “Mr. John Doe Ole! Mr. That Lie, Lie! To my view, internet thuggery is taking the shine off the campaigns that are heralding the upcoming election. Imagine the somewhat sacrilegious violence that was orchestrated right in the hallowed palace of the Oba of Benin the other day!
Stop and think about it for a minute. Many young people will say they aspire to be political leaders in Edo someday. And even if they don’t want to be political leaders when they grow up, many of them in the State amidst the ongoing electioneering are in awe of the ignoble way and manner unprintable names are being called. But during an election, what are gullible people learning from the supporters of the politicians that are running for the highest political office in the State?
As parents, and as influencers of young people, we should resort to exhibiting enviable behaviors for the young ones that daily emulate us. We should give them the opportunity of having positive experiences, healthy relationships and opportunities to learn how decent to play politics as it is played in advanced democracies. We should give them the opportunity of understanding right and wrong. We should give them the opportunity to learn how to respect others, and respect themselves.
We should from henceforth resort to be setting good examples for future politicians and supporters in Edo State; even when sometimes, without meaning to, we might say things that are capable of impacting disrespectful behavior in young people, we should always find a way of telling them that we erred.
