Sunday, 26 May 2013
Social Media Fights Back: David Mark Backs Down From Controversial Statements
Under intense social media backlash, Nigerian Senate President David Mark denies that he called for the censorship of social media in Nigeria. He says "mischief-makers" took his comments out of context.
David Mark's Special Advisor, Kola Ologbondiyan issued the following statement:
Recently, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, delivered a keynote address at the Senate press corps Retreat in Umuahia, Abia Sate. The theme of the Retreat was: The Role of the Media in Promoting Good Governance. The event had in audience the state Governor, Chief Theodore A. Orji, Senators Ayogu Eze, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Nkechi Nwaogwu and a host of media practitioners and activists as well as other eminent Nigerians.
When Senator Mark was invited to the podium to deliver his address, he recalled his interaction with the members of the Senate Press Corps who came to invite him to the occasion. According to him, the members of the Corps gave him the liberty to speak his mind on the workings of the media adding that the power conferred on him by the Corps also granted him the authority to criticize the media.
He however noted that he would thread with caution “because a goat will not visit a lion’s den on the pretext that the lion is sick and return home in one piece.” As his observation sent the large audience laughing, the President of the Senate quickly added that he is wise enough to know that the liberty given to him by the Senate Press Corps was a Greek gift.
Senator Mark also informed the audience that since he was quoted out of context that mobile phones was not for the poor myth, he had learnt to read a prepared text wherever he went to deliver an address. “I have challenged anybody to show me a quote in my own words where I said telephone is not for the poor. Nobody has been able to produce it yet I have to defend this everyday that what I said was if you must use a phone then you have to pay for the service.”
Noting that he always love to speak from the heart, the President of the Senate said he hoped and prayed that whatever he would present in his address to the Senate Press Corps at the event would not be misconstrued and misrepresented to Nigerians who were not present at the event.
It was as if Senator Mark saw tomorrow or had a premonition of how his innocuous remark on the social media would be misinterpreted and misrepresented by mischief makers who have been lurking around to attack him.
In his address, the President of the Senate had asserted that “the emergence of the social media like facebook, twitter, blackberry messenger, YouTube etc have changed the face of the media practice by making information sharing easier, faster and quicker. But this is not without its demerits. Social media has become a threat to the ethics of media practice and good governance because of its accessibility and absolute freedom. Every freedom carries a responsibility. Even in the advanced democracies, where we all agree that good governance is practiced, there is no absolute freedom."
Continuing, Senator Mark expressed the belief that “there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country. I say this because media practice, particularly journalism, process news gathering and dissemination. It also operates a feedback mechanism and where the practitioners erred there is room for rebuttal. But in the social media a faceless character can post any information that is absolutely false and misleading but will never retract it. At the end of the day one is bombarded with questions over what one has no business with. I suggest that schools of mass communication and journalism should review their curricular to include the operations of social media.”
But hardly had he returned to his seat after the address when mischief makers began to work on their blogs in the social media. The message of the President of the Senate, delivered in a simple language, has not only been misconstrued, it has become misrepresented and had begun to spread like a wildfire. Mark had become the victim of the fear he had expressed before his address.
The wildest among the reactions said Senator Mark had called for censorship of the social media. There were those who said the President of the Senate stated that social media was being used to insult the leaders of the nation like him while others became as mundane as alleging that he wanted the social media to stop criticizing those in authority and to write only their good sides. All these are absolute falsehood.
From the excerpts of the speech quoted above, it is manifest that the President of the Senate neither called for the censorship of the social media nor alleged that the medium was being used to insult the Nigerian leaders like him. He also did not ask the social media to stop criticizing the Federal Government and write only on its good sides. Rather, he called for measures that would check the negative tendencies inherent in the use of the social media. That, I believe, is a genuine call that would help refocus the medium.
One would therefore have expected on-line publishers to join the clarion call made by Senator Mark that the assault to news gathering and dissemination being perpetrated on the social media be checked. There are several instances when social media activists have posted falsehood and readers believed them only to discover later that the post was bogus. How does this help the credibility of the social media as a medium? For instance, few days after members of the National Youth Service Corp posted to Bauchi State went to camp, a section of the social media posted falsehood that Boko Haram sect had attacked the Bauchi camp and about 50 people killed.
It was soon discovered that the information was false and totally mischievous. How can this be justified? Yet Senator Mark did not call for sanctions against those who made such posts but called for a check against such negative tendencies.
For the avoidance of doubts, the President of the Senate’s interest in the media has never been hidden and he demonstrated this in his several interfaces with the stakeholders of the industry before the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the 6th National Assembly.
Even at the Umuahia event, he expressed kind words for the media and its conscientious operators by saluting “the courage, doggedness and steadfastness of the Nigerian media.” Senator Mark also acknowledged the fact that “the press has been in the vanguard for the promotion and sustenance of democracy we now enjoy. Even the struggle for independence was pioneered and fought for by the Nigerian media.
“Sometimes I do disagree with you, but the media generally has fared well. They can still do more by deliberately planning and sustaining the efforts to bridge the information gap between the leaders and the led. The press can achieve this if it applies the basic principles of patriotism, accountability, transparency, and objectivity in the discharge of its duty.”
Is it not curious that some social media activists turned the table against Senator Mark by concocting lies and ascribing them to him? Was it for nothing that they ignored the details of his printed speech? Was there an agenda to deliberately denigrate his personage and cast a slur on his hard earned reputation? How else can one rationalize the insistence of some social media activists that Senator Mark called for the censorship of the medium even when his speech showed clearly that he never made such a call?
Perhaps one would have ignored some of the ridiculous posts but for the successive analysis that have been following. It is suspect that in most of these analyses of this hoax, there are subtle attempts to foist a label of “social media must be censored” on the Senate President. This is mischievous, irresponsible, wicked and unjust agenda that will not stick.
Senator Mark did not make any gaffes in his keynote address to the Senate Press Corps on the role of the media in promoting good governance.
Rather, his critics, who have continually ignored the text of his address which he read in the public, are mischief makers.
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Why would anyone want to
Submitted by Natalie2 (not verified) on April 28, 2013 - 18:27.
Why would anyone want to censor social media? I think it should be encouraged, if used wisely it can change people's lives and make their voices heard. Social media as a health care tool is also more widely used lately, so I don't see why the senator would censor it.
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Food For Thought!
Submitted by Abdul Majeed (not verified) on August 15, 2012 - 10:06.
A society where the dogs are eating the lions...; Such is not safe to live. We all need to all speak out, irrespective of our ethnic or tribal extractions.
David Mark and News Media Censorship
Submitted by steve (not verified) on August 15, 2012 - 04:31.
There nowhere in the world were there is absolute freedom.Freedom of press is not absolue. That is anarchy especially in our society where evil dominate.Like this Sahara we read daily, some of the writeups are nor true but we swallow them !00% because we like people criticizing the government. Government is not doing well and the anly avenue left to air our feelings is true these media. However,they should be check and balances.It takes matured mind to decifer thenews items.
David Mark is a dog
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 15:54.
The man is delusioned, he is a dog, he always go back to his vomit. I don't rate him at all.
Re: Mr Spokes Man
Submitted by Brandon (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 15:28.
Mr Spokes Man, you have not said anything different from what he has been accused of. The social media is a platform for people to express there views, whether censored, verified or not! Any right thinking person should know that you have to verify your source of information before believing or acting on it. Mr Speaker obviously lacks understanding of the role of social media in the society thus his comments and I dare say, fears. Do not forget that social media has been the source of lots of information for the media itself and has played a very important role in recent democratic endeavors. The Arab Spring and April 2011 elections are case in point for us. I will advice you and your Boss to get involved in doing the job you claim to do, bcos you foisted yourselves on us, and earn the respect of the populace which I doubt you can going by the way you milk the people and live in opulence while millions are dying.
MEDIA CENSORSHIP IS REALLY NECESSARY
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 15:24.
@Deri, I truly agree with you. @Osita Dioka, I also understand your point of view especially with the rotten situation our country is facing. However, you don't tackle situations by telling lies and commiting slander. We all know that our leaders have not done anything to improve our well being, but that does not mean we should spice up/misconstrue their public speeches. That will amount to feeding ourselves with lies and breeding the young ones in the same manner. There is no justification in twisting someone else's assertion in order to gain accolade or endear people to yourself.
Stop The Mischief
Submitted by Lanre (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 12:18.
Maybe this is a reflection of the times but SaharaReporters does not come across as a responsible outfit in this one instance. It chose "Senate President Backs Down From Controversial Comment" to report the Senate President's Media Aide. After Reading Kola Ologbodiyan's piece I was left wondering how that headline made sense. Reading Ologbodiyan's piece the impression I came out with was that the Senate President "was not backing down". He never made the statement credited to him and was merely setting the record straight. Yes SaharaReporters is part of the New Media but I still expect from it a big dose of responsible behaviour. In the current instance I am disappointed with it.
Deri
Submitted by Tamoo Tiye (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 11:07.
I have been closely following the content and the style of writing of "Deri" and have compared the style with that in some articles under another name. Now I think I know who he is.
BE WARY OF WHAT YOU READ FROM THE WEB.
Submitted by Adah (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 10:52.
for a full text of the speech, please refer to:
http://thedreamnigeria.blogspot.com/2012/08/full-text-by-president-of-se...
the Senate president never called for the censorship of social media...i advise we dont always believe what we read from the web..especially unconfirmed sites
David Mark Is.....
Submitted by Sale Igwe Balogun (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 10:22.
David Mark is a lunatic. QED! Nemesis will soon catch up with him. Let him and his co-travellers continue to steal our commonwealth for; One Day, Monkey Go Go Market, But Inogo Fit Retun. They should go and ask Gadaffi.
David Mark is a fool. He is
Submitted by king (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 09:56.
David Mark is a fool. He is not doing the right thing as a senate president. He protect the president like that is what he was voted to do. #coward
David Mark and Social Media
Submitted by Efeturi Ojakaminor (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 09:31.
Nigerians, as a people, have seen this character before. It is true that we have a short memory span but we have not forgotten yet his elfin declaration that the telephone is not meant for the common man. Today, with the invasion of the GSM we have seen this statement for what it is. In the meantime he has turned around to say that he never said so. The man simply does not have anything to offer. But for the kind of medieval politics that we have in this country, characters like Mark will have no business manning a local government headquarter talkless of the hallowed (can one still say hallowed?) chamber of the senate.It is to our eternal shame that we have characters like Mark lording it over us. Enough said...
otun abi otun yeye useless
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 09:19.
otun abi otun yeye useless man hym wan try we naija abi we go show am peper we dey wait am. what an idiot he thinks that he can watch that his mouth on us abi we shall see
democracy we now enjoy?
Submitted by Awudu Mba Oluwa (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 09:09.
Mark, we ordinary citizens are not enjoying democracy. Na you thieves are enjoying it. that's why we are shouting on the social media!!! But you want us to shut up while you are stealing and enjoying democracy. We will shout you thieves down and chase you out of our public properties. THIEVES, THIEVES, THIEVES.
WHAT ABOUT OFFICE LOOTS?
Submitted by Chuka (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 08:48.
We are not interested in what he said or the denials. I hope you that's the spokeperson read Ogoo Okonkwo's piece on him, let him come out with evidence to prove otherwise those GRAND larceny if he wants us to take him serious. We are no longer fools as our politicians think. Enough of all this window dressing by our WICKED and UNSCRUPULOUS politicians. Kola, you can do better with your education than using it to defend the indefensible. Cheers
David Mark
Submitted by George (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 08:48.
'There must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country.' David Mark
If this is not a call to censorship, I wonder what it is. The man has become so disconnected with his immediate environment because of the wicked salaries and allowances he corners that he has lost the meaning and overall essence of words.
David Mark, who I understand has given up Nigeria citizenship in favour of that of Belize, will not go scot free. One day, he will answer to his many crimes against the Nigerian people. I have no atom of respect for this major criminal.
There is no difference!
Submitted by Mikky Mikky (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 08:28.
"Social media has become a threat to the ethics of media practice and good governance because of its accessibility and absolute freedom. Every freedom carries a responsibility. Even in the advanced democracies, where we all agree that good governance is practiced, there is no absolute freedom."
Continuing, Senator Mark expressed the belief that “there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country"
The above two paragraphs are quotes from the what Senator David Mark said. So Mr Senate President what is the difference between this and what you are denying? For me it's all the same.Sir I suggest you do the honourable thing by apologising and we move on.
theif is advising us how not to citisize!!!
Submitted by Awudu Mba Oluwa (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 08:22.
Before you review the school corricular so that they are thought how not to criticize thieves, let the thieves like you first review your ethics not to steal!!
Humble pie
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 08:21.
Humble pie, David Mark very good, up social media. the voice of the people against the fat corrupt cats !
David Mark bought a house on
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 07:18.
David Mark bought a house on Aso drive Abuja for 800Million Naira, he paid cash for it, our money....God is watching..
see who is talking
Submitted by Kelechi Edward Iyama (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 07:12.
So this person known here as Deri is still typing! Aint you even ashamed of yourself? You come here everyday defending your stupid boss foolishness and you support your stupidity by claiming the oil is yours! Who is talking about oil? Why are you always in a hurry to attack Bakare and his people? Where were you when Bakare was fighting for GEJ to be made President when the fool was hounded in a hole in Abuja smiling and waving his two hands at the same time like a confused man! Bakare doesn't have time for a non-entity like you. Word of advise to you; get a good job and stop trawling the internet 24/7 looking for news to counter. Sahara Reporters allows your post because the see you as a fool if not they would have censored your rubbish comments. I bet if you were in SR position such comments won't see the light of day.
Mark is a Dictator in Agbada
Submitted by Olumodeji Idowu (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 06:34.
This is a man desprately trying to become the president of this country and asking that social media should be banned.
At first he said 'Telephone is not for the poor", just image what will become of us if he is president
Our leaders are just impossible!
David Mark
Submitted by fiscalfederalist (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 06:18.
If Mark believes he was wronged by Rudolph Ogoo Okonkwo he should take him to court and thereby prove to us he was so wronged or tell all the irrelevant nonsense above to the marines. Can anyone blame those of us who could care less for the tripe written in defence of a Nigerian politician whose salary is N50m per month? Abegi!!!!!
David Mark
Submitted by fiscalfederalist (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 06:16.
Let me explain -
Mark alluded to the social media in countries where "we all agree good governance is practiced"! He clearly recognises that many do not agree it is practiced in Nigeria so why the surprise to the 'bad governance' focus of some respondents? And why wouldn't that response be targeted at none other than the speaker and 'senate president'?
The social media, in countries practicing good governance, is checked by good governance - precisely by a thorough, incorruptible, transparent and unbiased legal system backed by a predominantly fair, professionally competent and conscientious police force. If saharareporters posts some falsehood about Tony Blair the commentator will soon find out the tone and colour of a London law court. Whose responsibility is it to create a similar scenario in Nigeria? Mark or Saharareporters?
David Mark
Submitted by fiscalfederalist (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 06:14.
The response to the over-reaction and misconstruction of Marks statements by some online commentators is glib, incomplete, and could not have been written by one with Nigeria's interest at heart. In fact, its only purpose was to exonerate Mark and defend his positions - and where does that leave the millions of Nigerians who continue to live under the yoke of the corruption that is the trademark of the system that grew and sustains Mark and his ilk and which must remain the primary concern and focus of all reactions to Marks keynote address to journalists at the Umahia jamboree?
Genius
Submitted by conservative (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 04:49.
Dioka, you are a genius in the making. In addition to your comment, there is one police man to every 20 Nigerians and yet this hypocrite move around with a 'battalion' of police men and additional SSS, SOBS',A HOLES,EFCC,ICPC, ETC. You wanna become a president? Sure! We will be waiting for you at the polls.
My dear David Mark, I need
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 02:30.
My dear David Mark, I need you to be wise and see the sign post where Nigeria is going: Therefore, I advise you to:
1. Reject the monetized senate President’s residence because you will eventually loose it shamefully. I hope you have seen the sign!
2. Stop using the phrase “the Leader and the led” Have you not learnt that you are elected to serve. Such phrase pours out your innermost shallow knowledge of governance.
3. Certain properties in the east are still crying for revenge, therefore find a way to reap that fruit before the time is over.
In the coming years, when strength will depart, what will you say you did for this country? At that point, you will go where you don’t want to.
4. What are doing now with your communication license? Can you pass a bill to revoke such?
Davids dog in defence
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 02:07.
@ osita you've said it all, we are in the same boat.
RE: RELEASE THE ORGINAL SPEECH
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 01:25.
Rather than bits and pieces of the speech, David Mark and his paid ego messaging hangers-on should advise him to release the full speech and let Nigerians judge. David Mark is not deserving of any respect in any country, irrespective of the scope of media liberty. He is a shameless political whore and thief. As long as he does not care about robbing Nigerians of their belongings, social media practitioners will not care about calling him what he is - a depraved political and moral caricature bamboozling the dwarfs aroung him into thinking that he is a giant. How much estacode did he collect for the trip to make the speech? Before running for the president has he given up that citizenship of Antigua?
