Fake news, National Convention and Social Media
Fake news is a menace that Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka argued could cause a war if unchecked. Nigeria has lost so much to it. In the last few weeks, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has had to battle fake news merchants, especially on the zoning of national offices ahead of the February 26 national convention announced by the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), writes IBRAHIM ADAM.
It looked genuine. The authors attributed it to the Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC), Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) with details of which zone each of the party’s national offices have been allocated.
The offices up for grab are National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman South, Deputy National Chairman North, National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, Vice Chairman South-West, Vice Chairman North West, Vice Chairman North Central, Deputy National Organizing Secretary, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Woman Leader, Deputy National Auditor and National Youth Leader. Also available are Zonal Youth Leader North Central, Zonal Youth Leader North West, Zonal Youth Leader North East, Zonal Youth Leader South West, Zonal Woman Leader South East, Zonal Woman Leader North East, Zonal Woman Leader North West, Zonal Woman Leader South-South, Zonal Woman Leader North Central, Zonal Woman Leader South West -Kemi Nelson, Ex-Officio Members South East, Ex-Officio North East, Ex-Officio North West, Ex-Officio South West, Ex-Officio Member North Central, National Auditor, National Vice Chairman South East and National Vice Chairman South-South.
Also available are the positions of National Vice Chairman, North-East, National Organising Secretary, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Woman Leader and Zonal Youth Leader South East.
The list attached each of these offices to a region. On Wednesday, Buni denied the purported zoning arrangement list in circulation ahead of the party’s February 26 national convention.
He said the list, which was attributed to him on social media since Monday, was baseless. In a statement by his spokesman, Mamaan Mohammed, the APC chairman said the list was false and has nothing to do with him. Buni urged the media to always verify all issues relating to the party before going to press.
“The attention of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe State and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has been drawn to media publications with purported zoning of offices allegedly announced by him.
His Excellency has in clear and unambiguous terms denied the said list, saying, it is false, baseless, unfounded, misleading and has nothing to do with him.
“The Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee said the party has not taken any decision at any fora on anything relating to the zoning of offices.
“The publication is just a figment of the author’s imagination that has nothing to do with the Chairman and the party. The public is hereby urged to disregard the purported list as it is misleading and completely false.”
This was not the first time the zoning issue would generate fake news. Shortly after the date of the national convention was announced, Akpanudoedehe had to address reporters that zoning had not been concluded.
He said: “I’m here to debunk the fake news going around on the social media that we have zoned offices. We are yet to meet on the issue of zoning. The news and rumour making rounds are fake. We never discussed the issue during our deliberations. People should disregard the story because it is fake news. It is not true.”
Speaking at a lecture, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the advent of the internet as well as the introduction of smartphones democratised access to and dissemination of information in a very profound way.
“Anybody with a smart phone and data can access the Internet and disseminate whatever he or she feels like from his or her comfort zones,’’ he said.
To tackle the menace of fake news, the minister called for a national policy on the use of the social media, to curb excesses and misuse.
“The need to act fast is made more urgent by the fact that the extremism being promoted by anti-state groups remains one of the biggest challenges to Nigeria’s national security.
Let me quickly state that the veritable tools of choice for extremists to propagate their dangerous and subversive ideas include unrestrained propaganda, fake news and hate speech.
“These are very potent tools in the hands of extremists, whether they are secessionists, ultra-nationalists, religious extremists or even insurgents.
“Of course, social media is the platform of choice for these malcontents.”
At a point, a group led by Prince Mustapha Audu claimed to be a parallel CECPC. The self-appointed leader of the group told reporters: “February 26 is our own (PYM) convention, we are going ahead with it. We don’t see any reason why we should stop.
“There have been meetings between ourselves, the DSS, between the leadership of some of the party, and it is clear that what we did has affected their plans. They didn’t plan to hold any convention till July or August.
“And the convention, they intend to do it with the party primaries for the presidency at the same time. So, a lot of illegalities are going on, and by our declaration, we truncated that. We brought the date for the convention, it has affected some of the leaders that didn’t intend to go forward. But we don’t care.
“We don’t want more fractures within the party. But sometimes, to make an omelette, you must break eggs. All the time, to make some omelettes, you must break eggs. We are trying to break some eggs to make beautiful omelettes to eat very well.”
It has since fizzled out after the real CECPC announced the date for the national convention and released the timetable.
Zoning
According to a political analyst, Mr. Ebuka Eze, “The party must be categorical on the zoning of national party offices. Zoning can guarantee a fair and equitable distribution of elective positions. The six geo-political zones must be given a sense of belonging. It must show that it is a platform with structures built on integrity. No abuse of its rules and the law must be tolerated at this moment so as not to give room to more disgruntled members. If the law is followed and everyone is carried along in the zoning and other arrangements being made in compliance with party rules and regulations and the electoral law, the party will emerge stronger. With a relatively successful ward, local government and state congresses across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it must build on these outcomes to get a stronger membership base and less internal rancour and litigations.”
He added: “The party will not contravene any law if it decides to use consensus candidacy. It can help present a united front and reduce rancour if majority feel carried along.”
Aspirants
As the party battles fake news, aspirants have intensified their campaigns. The media team of one of the aspirants, Senator George Akume, said: “If elected APC National Chairman, Senator George Akume will be committed to upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Constitution of our great Party the All Progressives Congress. To this end, he will respect the powers and responsibilities of all organs and officers of the Party, which is necessary to entrench internal democracy and party discipline.
“All the party organs, officers and stakeholders need to work in harmony to consolidate our position as the dominant and ruling party in Nigeria. Senator George Akume’s vision is an APC that will be a model in political party administration in Nigeria and beyond.
“To bolster confidence in APC, Senator George Akume will hold periodic Town Hall Interactive Sessions around the country and convey feedback to the APC Governments at all levels. Also, he will promote and participate in a robust social media communication scheme to feel the pulse of Nigerians, especially the youths and encourage the respective APC Governments to appropriately act on key issues raised. Senator George Akume will passionately see to the faithful implementation of APC’s Manifesto.”
Aside Akume, others who have shown interest in leading the party are Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Senator Tanko Almakura, Senator Sani Musa, Senator Danjuma Goje, Saliu Mustapha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Sunny Monidafe.
While zoning and others are still being worked out, the committee will receive the interim report of the National Reconciliation Committee on January 31. The CECPC will consider and adopt reports of state congresses on February 2. The inauguration of the state executives will take place on February 3. The sale of forms to aspirants for national offices will begin on February 14 at the party National Secretariat while submission of completed forms will take place on or before February 19. The publication of sub-committees will be done on February 19 and screening of aspirants will take place between February 20 and 22. The Screening Appeal Committee will hear and resolve complaints on February 23 and the accreditation of statutory and elected delegates to the National Convention will be done between February 24 and 25. The hearing of complaints arising from the National Convention will be conducted on February 28.
