by Isi Esene (@iDova)
I read Kathleen Ndongmo’s piece on YNaija Frontpage, a platform (not
unlike ThisDay Backpage) provided for selected young men and women to
articulate their perspective and contribute positively to the National
discourse. Her article was blunt and straight to the point.
I think it
is a good write-up. It touches on how Nigerians are perceived by the
outside world and how we contribute to feeding this perception. I was
however rudely jolted by the ferocity of some of the comments which
followed. A number of commentators violently attacked the writer
mainly, in their own admission, because she is not Nigerian.
I looked closely into these uncouth, uncivilized, and indecorous
comments and I saw naked hypocrisy, crass jealousy, overt ignorance,
and shameless envy. I wish they could vent half of their misguided
anger on the successive clueless governments that have held Nigeria by
the jugular for so long, maybe then we won’t need ‘foreigners’ to do our
clean-up job for us.
I must point out though, that YNaija Media needs to do more in
moderating the comments posted on its blog. I expect it to let readers
understand the standards of engagements required of them and the
disclaimer to this effect clearly spelt out. Readers need to know that
the Ynaija platform is a platform for civilized discourse and
cross-pollination of developmental ideas and not a pedestal for the
display of vile gutter language and ad hominem arguments bereft of
basic logic. It therefore should exercise its exclusive rights in
admitting or rejecting comments as it deems fit.
I salute Kathleen’s passion, courage, maturity, and her contribution
to the development of the Nigeria project, and I urge her not to be
cowed by a bunch of hypocritically misguided elements who are trying
desperately to be more catholic than the Pope, the sooner they are
ignored the better for us all.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comments on this post, it is appreciated. But I would like to make the issue of censorship I proposed in this rejoinder clearer to the readers.
I sincerely do not count statements like "omo-ale… omo ti koniran…" and calling people "pieces of sh*t" as a responsible expression of freedom of speech, every privilege comes with a commensurate level of responsibility and I hold that readers should be made to adhere to this or Ynaija expresses their rights (as moderator) to edit such comments.
This was exactly my point, and this still remains my opinion. I thank you again for reading. – @iDova.
I can say i fall into that category that saw the post for what it was, a clarion call for us to clean our house and show a united front against any hate directed towards us. But I disagree with the censoring of the comments, if it is so then all we would be doing is congratulating and applauding the activism*though it is the whole point of the page* and ignoring the fact that even within us there are still those who don't see wrong in our country. and even if they do, the Nigerian in them believes it's the system but they fail to realise that the system isn't some computer-run program. there are faces behind the system. True others were just spewing their bile on the Messenger not minding if what she wrote is correct or not. As long as she doesn't find the comments offensive*which i don't expect her to* then let the comments flow. That way we are aware of who and who needs to be re-educated if we are to move forward. My 2cents
You said it all. Let us hope they learn.
I try to see d positive side of the tirade. Rightly or wrongly directed, I like that Nigerians got angry @ someone they perceive as an antagonist of their country. That's d first step to proper nationalism. Next phase would be to direct the anger within against our leaders. Though I smiled it thru when I read d post in d morning and felt like 'yeah ryt, Africans are jealous of us, and Nigerians, they can get mad if u not being one o them try criticising them.' Kathleen, you 'ld take it for humour it inspires. Its universal.
And let the people say #Gbam – I agree with you Mofasa. Completely.
Good Points.I was also appalled at the ferocity of the Comments Directed at her because of the Article.But I don't believe comments should be censored.Freedom of Expression also involves listening to someone put down with all his might that which you would advocate with all your Might.