WHY THIS MUCH PENCHANT FOR NEGATIVE NEWS?

#AbiaOnline
Yesterday’s night was one night I will never forget in a hurry, I marveled at the kind of effort invested by those who called me only in a bid to convince me of nonexistent events which, of course, were mere rumours aimed at disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of Gods Own State. Many people got entangled in their plot as they shared those rumours to their families and friends, many other occupied all social media platforms, which escalated the tensions that resulted into the horrific events of yesterday, both in Aba and Umuahia. And I’m pushed to ask: “Why do people derive so much joy in spreading false or negative information?”
Those rumours did not only succeed in causing unrest, throwing people in disarray in Enyimba city, it also fueled the scenarios that led to lose of lives and destruction of valuables.
Our present ICT advanced world is inarguably a blessing to mankind, but this is not without its demerits as, today due to information technology, news is disseminated in a twinkle of an eye and, it has made life easy and safer as timely information is very crucial, such that every owner of mobile phone and other communication gadgets with internet connection can post and share information even without proper verification. But the ugly side to this advancement leaves much to be desired, people now concoct lies or half truths to feed the unsuspecting public, sometimes the after effect becomes grave and unimaginably painful. Social Media platforms has transmogrified into a misinformation hotbed by persons of low virtues for their own insidious purpose.
GOD FORBID!
Yesterday’s night topsy-turvydom in Aba is one of those occasions that calls for restraint, the negatively skewed rumours traded by some persons was appalling as reports has it that there were just gun shot at several spots, but enemies of Abia decidedly created a heavy weather of the whole event in a bid to stirring up unrest and anarchy in our ever peaceful State. Today, they’re at it again, quoting the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, to have said OPERATION PYTHON DANCE II has been cancelled and that soldiers will leave the State, whereas the Governor’s press briefing clearly stated that “beginning from today, SOLDIERS WILL START WITHDRAWING FROM THE STREETS OF ABA AND UMUAHIA GRADUALLY following relentless interfaces between the State government and the Presidency”.
WHAT DO THEY STAND TO GAIN BY CAUSING ANARCHY AND PUTTING THE LIVES OF INNOCENT ABIANS IN JEOPARDY?
The promoters of this cocoon of lies do not consider the negative implications on the fragile peace in the Nigerian society. This may likely spark off reprisals and more confrontation between the Nigerian Army and our IPOB brothers, thus putting our brothers lives at the mercy of their arms.
Conclusively, it pertinent to recognize the power of information and its ability to make or mar our peaceful coexistence, more so, this period of volatile peace in our nation. Me think it is wise for fellow compatriots to stop blowing things out of proportion, and desist from acts that will put a question mark to national cohesion and stability.
PLEASE VERIFY THAT INFORMATION YOU WANT TO DISH OUT, SHARE FROM THE RIGHT AND RELIABLE SOURCES.
Ekwu cha la m. Onye nwere nti, ya nuru
UNU
15/09/2017