January came and people
thought, yes, Nigeria has reached the tipping point, the point of no return.
People touted and spread the message of now is the time and all that. People
compared it to the Arab spring that was successful in Tunisia and Egypt in that
it brought about the much needed change in status quo. Gains and losses are
still being counted though and Syria is still at it.
I had to sit and
analyze life on twitter and it hit me why the Nigeria spring never sprung. The
success of the mass revolt in both Tunisia and Egypt is attributed to the power
of the Social Media.
Here is where I get to
the crux of my write-up. Anyone is free to take offence at what I’m about to do
because I am going to mention names or at least twitter handles to drive home
my point.
I have been tweeting
since July, 4 2011 with the twitter handle @SegunOmojola. I follow 208 people
and I have 177 followers presently with 3108 tweets to my name. One of the
reasons I joined the tweet train was to get published, add my voice to many
other voices clamoring for a new Nigeria, link up with like minds, synergize,
network and replicate the victories recorded in Tunisia and Egypt back home as
well as tell the future where I stood in history. I got published, at least my
blog has since enjoyed about 1037 visits since inception thanks to twitter and
let me not forget FaceBook meaning I got read… that’s 2 down right? I made new
friends also I wish I could mention all but here are just a few of the
wonderful people that I can now call friends @blcompere, @PEPPEROSY,
@tee_hidee, @_dlittleprince(no vex if I no metion you oooo *winks*) and let me
not forget to add @willdeji and many others like them that I met for the first
time on twitter. I know who you follow is purely your choice and no one can
compel you to follow him/her, but, I followed all these people at the height of
the OccupyNigeria movement because from their tweets and avatars, I could
perceive that they were part of the OccupyNigeria Movement and some are even
leaders. I mentioned and I got mentioned, I RT-ed and I got RT-ed as well from
some of the people and we exchanged information, shared ideas and had a few
lols together but wait, this is where I am going. A few who I noticed are at
the forefront of the OccupyNigeria Movement were selective with their RTs and
mentions. They choose to RT or mention only those they are familiar with and
the worst is, they don’t reply or respond to questions or mentions directed at
them. Now, how do you explain that? My timeline is filled with their activities
so I know they are active online but RT them or reply their tweet or even ask a
direct question and you get no response. I wonder if that was the attitude of
the Tunisians and Egyptians, the Social Media platform would not have been a useful
mobilization tool.
I will talk what me I
know oh and based on my personal experience with the following handles I’m
about to mention. Fear not, feel free to sue me if you so wish. I will furnish
you with my address and phone number so you can properly address the writ of
summons should you need to. Let me start with @gbengasesan who may not
recollect me but I remember well from Akure back in the days when Youth for Christ
was the only meeting point for young people( he may not recall me). A leading
voice in the OccupyNigeria Movement, I have asked direct questions from him on
more than one occasion yet no response and he is a young person like me. Is it
that he is so busy? I have equally directed questions at @omojuwa and
@ogundamisi, I RT-ed @KathleenNdongmo and less I forget @toluogunlesi but none
of these people responded in any way to my direct question, mention or RT.
These are influential people in their own rights judging by the number of their
followers and I perceive that they are at the forefront of the OccupyNigeria
Movement. I am not aware of the need to register to be a part of the
OccupyNigeria Movement beyond having a burning desire to see tangible and measurable
positive development occur in Nigeria I would have done so, so that I can be
part of the clickclique. Also, I’m not
suggesting that it is possible for you to respond to every possible mention or
RT( though I wonder how the next set of people I’ll mention do it)but a direct
question??? I wonder if one Tunisian to another or Egyptian to another needed
to have known one another before sharing a drink or even a tweet as they
mobilized to vent their feelings. You may think I am seeking attention and
followership by this blog post of mine, you may be right, but take time to
follow me through on this and feel free to reach your conclusions of me but
note that I am not attacking the character of these people, no, I’m just
pointing out what I noticed to still be an issue with the Opposition in our
Nation and if opening myself up to class action will cause us to begin to
notice, then so be it ( I hope the government will provide me with a lawyer for
free ooo). Let me move to @elrufai, @PObahiagbon and even @ALIBABAGCFR who
continue to lead by example. These three as far as I know take time to reply,
RT and respond to direct contact, RTs and mentions (though egbon Alibaba never
notice my attempt at knock knocking), but I see their timeline and I notice even
with their principled stance, they respond to people they don’t even know and
no matter how stupid the question or comment. They even take the time to tell
you that you have been blocked if you pass your boundary. My fear is, if we
can’t get along on a virtual platform, how do we get along in real life? Go
through the tweets of the likes of those I mentioned before these present
three, it is filled with objective critic of the government and the bigotry of
people and how we all should be united in the fight to enthrone good governance
and yet, insignificant me is not noticed not to talk of them taking time to
just respond to a direct question, or RT or even mention. I wonder if this kind
of thing happened in Tunisia or Egypt as they mobilized for change. I wasn’t
there and I wasn’t part of it so I can’t say. I don’t know if there are any
others on twitter that noticed what I am talking about but as for me, I decided
to stick my neck out and do something about it and if I’m wrong, I stand to be
very corrected via any means those I mentioned may choose to do so. I may be
insignificant, but I exist and that’s what should count. Courtesy demands that
you are not rude even to strangers and not responding to direct inquiries is
considered rude everywhere. How do we successfully call the government to order
when our unity is out of order? Supposing we successfully take over the reins
of government as youth, how will we not be different from the government we removed?
If I can’t enjoy the privilege of courtesy on twitter, how will I have the
confidence to approach you in real life or even work towards a common cause
with you? And we are quick to highlight the governments insensitivity and
obvious disconnect from the plight of the masses. I am not judging, I am merely
making an observation. I dream of a better Nigeria for me my family, my
friends, my children. We do not have to like one another for whatever reason,
but we can still work together for a common cause. All differences aside, and
united of purpose not by mere words but in deeds, that’s the way to go. I felt I
had to do this and I have and if my message is not understood as it should be,
then the OccupyNigeria Movement never was and will never be and that’s why the
Nigerian spring never sprung…Selah.
*NB* I am sorry I had
to mention names and all but enough of hiding to make a difference. For the
sake of those who may take offence and want to sue, find my home address and
phone number below… if I die, I die but Nigeria must be great again.
Babtunde Oluwasegun Tolutope Omojola
14, Akinleye-Martins street off Oyemekun road, Akure. Ondo
state.
Mobile-08038194265
