Lessons To Learn From Ekiti By Chukwudi Iwuchukwu The elites on social media are as usual doing what they know best: Speaking elegant queen English about the emergence of Fayose as the unofficial Governor-elect of Ekiti State I have read all manners of insult hurled at Ekiti People for choosing a Tout over an intellectual and I laugh. Most of us on social media especially the champions and overlords who gets comments, shares and retweets on our updates are disconnected from the reality that is Nigeria Social media is an effective tool for social re-engineering and mobilization It is an avenue to network, release tensed up energy and be informed on the latest gist in town but elections in Nigeria are not won on social media. For a start, most of us dont have voters card. How do you influence change without the potent tool needed for that change? You are good at Facebooking, tweeting but nobody in your village knows you. We parade our selves as the elites: The change agent in our society; in fact the best thing to have ever happened to Nigeria but wait for this: despite your legendary popularity that draws 100 comments and 500 re tweets, it cant win election for you in your ward. A tout will dust and leave you dazzled in your village ward. Do your ward chairman knows you? Fayemi was busy showing social media bloggers what he has done in Ekiti, Fayose in the other hand was fraternizing with the poor that we neglect and despise, the Okada men, the market women, the farmer and generally the wretched and poor of the society Fayemi was elitist: after all he just came back from America while Fayose choose to connect with the agbero and motor park touts. Agreed, the social media champions have the template to change Nigeria from her backwardness and any how ness but we need to come down from our high horse. My kid brother Ichie Esibe Eyeye may not be as popular as Im on social media but if two of us stand for election today in my street or Village Ogbunike, The young man will defeat me hands down. The reason is not far fetched: He is more connected to the people on the street than Im . They call him Ichie Esibe, he drinks regularly with them and they see him as one of their own, while they see me as the smart Aloof Barrister who sabi book but dont interact with them and tomorrow, If I go out to seek votes from them to defeat my brother, they will laugh in derision, collect my money and drinks but will support Esibe. That was the politics that played out in Ekiti today. The magic wand that gave Fayose the tout victory over an intellectual. My dear Change agent and young people, dont be carried away by your popularity on social media. Dont be lost in the bubble that comes with the privilege of being here on social media If you want to change Nigeria, go down to the street and your villages and know the people there. Hate it or like it: All elections are local. Election are not won on social media and todays event validated this assertion.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 13:13:51 +0000
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