By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. For people who are not familiar with the lingo of social media, viral messages are online messages that ar...
By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D.
For people who are not familiar with the lingo of
social media, viral messages are online messages that are so popular, so
compellingly poignant, and so creative and thoughtful that users compulsively
share them with scores of friends and family members across multiple
platforms—email forwards, Facebook, Twitter, text messages, blogs, YouTube
videos, etc.—thereby extending their scope and power beyond the bounds of
traditional notions of space and time.
Some viral messages reach millions of people through
social networks and can sometimes have a wider reach and a greater
social/political impact than traditional mass-mediated messages. That is why
“viral marketing” is becoming a huge deal in contemporary integrated marketing
communication.
Anyway, one of the ancillary effects of the last
“Occupy Nigeria” revolt is that it has caused Nigerians to develop a heightened
awareness of and curiosity about the cost and consequences of subsidizing the
lifestyles of our rulers and about good governance and transparency. The
messages I reproduce below, which I also shared on my Facebook page, have gone
viral in the Nigerian cyberspace. In very ingenious and thoughtful ways, they
call attention to corruption and waste in government and creatively mock the
crying incompetence and inconsistencies of the people who make policies for us.
But just because something has gone viral on the
Internet is not enough reason to suppose that everyone has seen it. In this
week’s column, I have chosen to share these creative and factually accurate
messages with people who are not (yet) denizens of the social media world.
The first viral message is titled, “How Jonathan is
cutting waste in government.” It’s a satirical but factual critique of waste
and corruption in government based on a close analysis of the 2012 budget that
the Jonathan administration sent to the National Assembly. Complex figures are
broken down into easily digestible bits of information so that ordinary people
can relate to them. It was written by a Nigerian blogger named Japh Omojuwa.
What follows is slightly edited for grammar.
1. The daily upkeep of our “able” president and his deputy costs us N20 million a day.2. Local travels for Namadi and Goodluck cost us N2 million every day3. International travels for Namadi and Goodluck cost us N3 million every day4. Both Namadi and Goodluck have N600 million in the budget for "welfare"5. Anyim's office will spend N65 million on trees when the FCT spent less than N50 million on same for over 4 years. If you can take it, I can't! I will engage all within and without to make this right6. What kind of public address system costs N150million? Will Michael Jackson be performing inside Aso Rock?7. What kind of desk top costs N300,000? Has Steve Jobs sent one from heaven?8. Tell me a consumer laptop brand that costs N314,000. Was it patented in heaven?9. Scanners of N190,000 and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she was satisfied with her budget. I am disappointed!10. N161 million for buses in the presidency. Are they starting a presidential palliative transport company?11. N1.8 billion to maintain existing furniture, offices and quarters? Are we hosting Barack and Michelle every day?12. Acquisition of computer software for N2.5 billion. Are we starting a computer company called CabalSoft?13. Stationery, magazines, newspapers for N4.5 billion. Why not buy the printing press?14. N295 million for new furniture. Are we moving the Federal Capital Territory again?15. Maintenance of vehicles and furniture for N17billion. Can we just buy shares in Toyota instead?16. Research and Development to cost N27 billion. Is Aso Rock now a research company? Lord have mercy!We can save hundreds of billions of Naira from wasteful spending in the 50 ministries, agencies and departments this year.Now you know this is beyond a fight about petrol taxes/subsidy; it's a fight for the soul of our country. Will you back out?
The second viral message is based on the outcome of
the Farouk Lawan-led ad hoc House of Reps committee that is looking into the
management of fuel subsidy. It brings to light the downright fraudulence and
ignorance of the vociferous advocates of petrol price hike. It was written by a
Julius Izuagie Umogbai and is based on a summary of the responses given by
different government officials to questions posed by Farouk Lawan.
Farouk Lawan: What is Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption?Diezani: 52 million litersNNPC: 35 million litersDPR: 43 million litersPPPRA: 24 million litersOkonjo-Iweala: 40 million litersFarouk Lawan: What was the subsidy for 2011?Diezani: 1.4 trillion nairaOkonjo-Iweala: 1.3 trillion nairaSanusi Lamido: 1.7 trillion nairaFarouk Lawan: Can we have the KPMG REPORT?Okonjo-Iweala: I have to go through the report firstDiezani: I have not seen the reportFarouk Lawan: What is the production capacity of our local refineries?NNPC: 30%PPPRA: 20%DPR: 13%Diezani: 15%Farouk Lawan: Does Nigeria pay subsidy on locally refined products?Diezaini: It dependsNNPC: The lay man cannot understand how it’s donePPPRA: YesDPR: NoFarouk Lawan: Why is Kerosene still scarce?Diezani: Because it’s used by the aviation industry as aviation fuelNNPC: Because there is no subsidy so NNPC overstretched its resourcesPPPRA: It’s not properly deregulatedFarouk Lawan: what is the balance in the subsidy accounts?Diezani: It’s a virtual accountNNPC: There is no account in existence as the layman will look at itPPPRA: The account is a technical oneCBN: There is no account with us for subsidyOkonjo-Iweala: The account exists but not with a bank
Related Articles:
The Grammar and Vocabulary of Fuel Subsidy Removal
Labor's Treachery Against the "Occupy Nigeria" Revolt
Labor's Treachery Against the "Occupy Nigeria" Revolt
Fuel Price Hike: Time to "Occupy" Nigeria
Biggest Scandal in Oil Subsidy Removal Fraud
Where is the Fuel Subsidy?
Biggest Scandal in Oil Subsidy Removal Fraud
Where is the Fuel Subsidy?
We need to understand that changes comes slowly. Dr. Iweala has pointed out that the recurrent expenditure would slide further.
ReplyDeleteHi Sir, You are really good writer.
ReplyDeleteBiggest web page on farooqkperogi.com.It is a amazing web page for of all us.Many individuals are getting service by this web page.Really I like this web page.I’ve never really believed about independent running a blog, but it definitely appears to be like something to think about.As I want to sharing If you have a home based business and make money online, you have no doubt heard the term "Viral Marketing." It has been a preferred method of marketing ever since the internet gained momentum. Thousands of online business owners have made their Viral Marketing campaigns work for them and have given them fat, juicy bank accounts. So, how can you make viral marketing work for you?
I like your choice full Article.