By Bright Ocholi Alih

 The use of social media in politics has continued to grow in recent times in Kogi state after considering its effect on the 2011 and 2015 general elections in Nigeria at large, many states and political circle across Nigeria. Political have continued to embrace the platform to mobilise their citizens and candidates towards active participation in the political process. 

 Findings have shown that whereas many use the technology to make vital input in the political discourse, others mount the social media podium to attack opponents, spread false rumours; hate and inciting messages which is believed to have contributed in the violence and tensions witnessed before, during and after the elections in many parts of Kogi state. 

 The foregoing argument is not unconnected with the several accusations and counter accusations that filled the cyber space in the past few days by urban neophyte activists of Kogi extraction accusing one another of turning politicians to financial rivers where they can  go to draw at will. 

 The question begging for answer is simple, since all the youths are frowning at and condemning merchandise activism, who are those doing the unthinkable "allegedly"? 

 It corroborates the anonymous proverb "since all lizards lie prostrate, its difficult to know which one has belly ache". Various youth forums in the state have been seen doing one adoption or the other; have we forgot in a jiffy how youths allegedly donated the sum of 2million naira support for the reelection of Governor Yahaya Bello? Have we lost the caption Kogi Governoship aspirant Admiral Jibrin Usman gets a campaign office from youth support group? Etc. 

 This is an indication that activists hobnobbing with politicians to earn a living is no longer an aberration but a norm in Kogi state politics.
Truth must be told Kogi "youths" and activists (Comrades) are equally contributing on a large scale to the underdevelopment and misgovernment in Kogi state. While some are feeding fat and driving exotic cars from misinforming the government, others are paying rents and other bills from adopting candidates that cannot even win "Madaki or Gago" of their community if it becomes a contest and in doing this, we engage in all kind of media onslaught and banters with sole aim of maligning and assaulting the personality of any perceived opponents. 

 Several others who cannot fit in the categorisation above, have resorted to using their physical strength and tools like gun, axe, knife and cutlasses to drive home their demands hence the odd music played by barrels and bullets flying like bees stinging law abiding citizens, increasing the numbers of widows and orphans, destroying valuable properties; houses and automobiles. 

 If all of us are condemning these three categories above, who are those responsible if not we? 

 Check which group do you belong?

 While the two categories of thuggery (Armed and Social media) are wagging very unnecessary and unending war caused by those depleting and milking the reservoir of our common patrimony dry, our educational, health sectors and other social infrastructures are suffering a great deal. 

 The purpose of activism is therefore defeated and abandoned because of desperate acquisition of wealth from politicians via any means mentioned.

 Enough of this divide and rule from these looters called politicians. You cannot leverage on accusing someone of something you are equally culpable to romance with enemies of our democracy and state. 

 Between an armed robber and a gun runner who can be said to be innocent of crime? Both are culpable!

 Permit me to assert that the problems facing Kogi state is a creation of the youths, double standing, pro government in the day and anti government in the night vices versa. So cheap, some are on the peanut called salary of 30,000 naira to defend government and politicians on social media. While they are sleeping in the night, you will be online conceiving insults and insulting people on their behalf. 

 We have become spy against ourselves for the sake of our enemies, hunting ourselves instead of them. Its shameful and laughable!