AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Dr Babajide Agunbiade (FNSE), the Atóbaáse of Yorubaland, has urged the Federal Government to wage war against propaganda ahead of the 2023 election in a bid to promote vibrancy in the nation’s democracy.
In Agunbiade’s opinion, sharing of false and unsubstantiated information could derail democracy if not chcked in good time.
The democratic space had been saturated with lies and misinformation, and if not checked, it could detail democracy, the patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council, stated.
“Stiff penalty should be meted out to people who propagate false and unsubstantiated information. We cannot have a democracy where people have decided that in order to win, all they need to do is heap a bunch of lies, misleading and unsubstantiated information on their opponents, thereby negating the need to have an issue-based election – a case of call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“First, our current clime is filled with propaganda that is purposefully biased, misleading or false to deter recipients from having access to accurate information. Secondly, propaganda is now widely employed to promote a political cause detrimental to democratic principles.
“Thirdly, lies and propaganda are harmful to their recipients because it limits their ability to make informed judgments. Roughly, propaganda spreads hatred and bigotry, and finally, propaganda is also used to deceive people and undermine democracy.
“The government must show the needed will by meting out strong punishment for those who trade in lies, falsify photos, go on air to propane falsehood, and confuse the electorate. He urged the government to come up with stiff penalties to end it.
“Federal Government must address the issue of propaganda to move the nation forward. A lot of false information is going on. The FG needs to address it before it gets out of hand.
“As we are getting set for the general election, the Federal Government needs to make a policy to resist politicians from propaganda but base their information on truth.
“Enough of propaganda from our politicians and the populace. I want to implore our youths not to allow politicians to use them in any form of propaganda.
“I believe that the FG can come up with a policy to end this problem even as we are going into the election year, which I’m optimistic will not mislead the citizens.
“Some of our youths who always engaged in social media should not be used in spreading hate speech and fake news which I termed as propaganda.”
Propaganda is disseminating information – facts, arguments, rumors, half-truths or lies – to influence public opinion. Deliberateness and emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from facts and information.
