Former member of the House of Representatives, Hafizu Kawu, has raised concerns over the misuse of social media in political engagement.
He warned that it poses a significant threat to peaceful coexistence among politicians and their supporters.
Kawu made these remarks during a Two-Day Media Summit he organized in collaboration with the Kano State Chapter of the Council of Ulama.
“From the part of politicians, we use social media to defame ourselves, spread hate speech, belittle political opponents, and sometimes promote violence, developments that are abhorred by our religious beliefs,” Kawu said.
According to him, it is through these kind of engagements that we could be able to cleanse the system and promote healthy political discussions,” Kawu added.
He emphasized that the summit sought to reshape societal thinking and foster mutual respect among politicians and their supporters.
Kawu also called on media organizations to join efforts in sanitizing the social media space.
“It is our collective responsibility to make our ways of communication saner, healthier, and more responsible,” he urged.
He highlighted the role of media in fostering positive social media use.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by social media misuse, Kawu stressed its significance in modern communication.
“Social media is the future of our societies. It touches each and every corner like forest fire. It has come to stay, no matter what. So all we need to do is to get the best out of it,” he said.
The event brought together Islamic scholars, legal experts, communication professionals, and politicians from various political parties to address the growing misuse of social media in politics.
