By Cecilia Ogezi (Correspondent, Abuja)
Head, Media Relations, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, has launched his book " Cyber Politics: Social media, social demography and voting behaviour in Nigeria.
The book was publicly presented on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the NCC Complex, Mbora, in Abuja.
The deeply researched book is an interface between communication studies and psychology, which richly explains nuanced understanding and far sight into issues involved.
Dr Ibietan, a political communication scholar with a Masters (MA) and PhD degrees in communication, notes that "Social media produces many points that coagulate to determine voting decision of the electorates, with a meaningful 10 percent effect that operates only within certain factors".
He further stated that as central as communication is to politics, given it's capabilities to stimulates political participation, it only does so in the context of other mediating factors to nudge voter behaviour.
Chairman of the occasion and Nigeria's former Minister of Information and Communication in Nigeria, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr. in his address, pointed out that the book represents an uncommon body of work by an intellectual visionary.
He explained that “extrapolation of the lessons and recommendations of this book will find perfect expression in other climes beyond the 2015 Nigerian general elections scenario. This, he said, gives a vivid insight to the upsides and the downsides of social media as it relates to politics.
The reviewer and Editor-in- Chief, Leadership Newspapers, Mr Azubuike Ishiekwene in his review, noted that the book of 12 chapters in 460 pages is exploratory of the media and campaigns having minimal effect on the behaviours of voters. He explained further that it has the "Hypodermic niddle effect" so explained extensively using the 2015 election as a case study.
"Social Media contributed to the Arab spring, and recent media report on the BBC reported that politicians are investing on podcast, website and social networking websites, Facebook and Twitter as a way of reaching voters".
Ishiekwene said the book shows that the social media as the 5th estate of the realm which users are both producers and consumers of information has clearly proved that the 4th and 5th estate can not only coexist but can also be mutually reinforced.
He added that there was something in the book for every politician in the social space, as utility of social media resonates within voters.
In his speech, the special guest of honour, Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, acknowledged that social media is bringing about changes that are compelling as it helps politics expand niches around the world.
The speaker who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, pointed out that Cyber politics in Nigeria and other African countries has not reached the point to determine political contestation.
Stressing that constituency impact can not be over estimated as these are necessary for socio-economic balances, interface with various groups at community levels, positive of dynamics of politics and engagement.
He noted that there can't be meaningful talk about democracy without interrogating the essence of liberal democracy and iliberal democracy. He however noted that in all, social media also acts as a check and will make politicians act in order.
Highlights of the ceremony includes the unveiling of the book by Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta who described the author's tenacity to work as proof of the level of work achieved in the book. NNL.
