The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and a former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, have called for the establishment o
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and a former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, have called for the establishment of an agency that will vet the information meant for the social media before they are released for public consumption. They advocated this on Wednesday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, during the first anniversary lecture of ‘the Pen pushing’, a social media platform founded by a veteran journalist, Dimeji Kayode – Adedeji.
Both Amosun and Ibidapo-Obe agreed that the social media had its advantages, they, however, noted that the platform had also been subjected to abuse and misuse by unscrupulous people to settle scores, damage reputation of individuals and organisations. The governor, who was represented by the state’s Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, likened the social media to a weapon of mass destruction, adding if left unchecked, it could wreck far-reaching damage on the society, community, organisations and a nation.
The governor urged the users of the social media, particularly the youths, to enhance self development, foster harmony, and unity, as opposed to using it for negative purposes. Ibidapo-Obe said the social media had come to stay and there was nothing that could be done until something else replaced it. He also called for a purgatory where all information would be tested, purged and sieved for authenticity, accuracy and truth, before being circulated.
He noted that the social media should be free of cut and paste messages whose veracity and authenticity had not been confirmed. The chairman on the occasion, Prof. Idowu Sobowale, said the social media had become a major source of information but also lamented that some people had taken to the platform to settle scores.
Sobowale noted that the advantages of the social media far outweighed its disadvantages. He argued that the platform had helped to unearth societal ills, fight corruption and injustices.
Punch
