I'm still researching if there's anywhere in Nigeria the youths have been hired to do untold damages to the names of political opponents than Ogun State. The magnitude of falsehood being dished out on daily basis by some hired youths especially on the social media is sickening. The reputation уσυ struggled to build for years can be pulled down in one ∂αy by someone who didn't have the faintest idea of all уσυ went through to achieve the height.
I have seen damages done to the image of Hon Oladipupo Adebutu despite his unparalleled strides in grassroots politics and tireless efforts in putting smile on the faces of Ogun people through his many life-enriching programmes.
Few years ago, I authored a lengthy article to counter a post in which the immediate past governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Justus Daniel was alleged to have ordered the killings of over 200 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University. It was intellectually annoying and I was compelled to react based on the fact that I was still in same institution the period they claimed the killings took place. I had equally read a post where a governorship candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Mr Sina Kawonise, a successful journalist and former Commissioner of Information, was accused of stealing 50 litres of diesel oil from a parked truck.
These havocs were done by some hired youths and each time I read such posts, I asked myself, "for how much?"
Otunba Gbenga Daniel for instance, toiled hard to earn the title, 'Architect of Modern Ogun State' yet part of the reasons his administration lost it in the court of public opinion in spite of his unbeatable records was largely due to the activities of these hired miscreants.
Thank God for the likes of Baaroyin Dayo Rufai,who managed to investigate the recent rumour of Amosun suspending the Olu of Ilaro and found it to be untrue. I'm not a fan of Governor Ibikunle Amosun but the allegation is a height of political insanity and it has got to stop. Unfortunately, majority of those in the business don't understand the implications of these unholy practices.
I know a few persons who went behind bars for helping to share unconfirmed and untrue informations on the social media. Уσυ necessarily don't need to be the author of such posts, by mere re-sharing, уσυ deserve same punishment as the original writer.
To the amateurs in this business, I beseech them to check their facts and confirm from their information source before sharing any information online and as for the professionals, please don't join to spread lie. Remember the creed: if in doubt, leave out!
