Communication amongst human-beings could be traced to the origin of speech circa 500,000 BCE. Technology in Communication dates back to 3,500 BCE when the Sumerians of Mesopotamia developed the Cuneiform writing. No sooner had that happened than the Egyptians developed their own form of writing called Hieroglyphs.
Communication, which, simply-put, is passage of information by speech, writing, gestures or any other medium or media, including Radio, Television, Newspapers and Social Media, has come a long way. It is as old as man himself.
Under normal circumstances and, ofcourse, in a sane society, communication strives towards the enhancement of a just, equitable, egalitarian, peaceful and progressive society.
Major conflicts that have arisen and(or) still arise in human relationship, be it between husbands and wives, communities, tribes or nations, have, more often than not, been traced to communication gaps. Conflicts hardly arise where there is effective communication.
Science and Technology have gone a long way advancing communication. To put it succinctly, the combination of Science and Technology has made Communication easier, cheaper and much more pleasurable. It has, in fact, contracted the World to a Global Village, with almost unhindered accessibility.
However, it has to be pointed out that sophistication in Technology is unfortunately being taken advantage of by some unscrupulous communicators in our midst. The worst thing that could happen to any human society is its infiltration by Unprincipled Communicators. The activities of such persons are capable of eroding confidence, mutual trust, equanimity and peace in the society.
As it is often said, whatever has merits, would also have demerits. Modern Technology in Communication and Information has, very sadly, probably without intending to be so, created a platform of immense latitude for Mischief and Unjustifiable Persecution and Defamation.
Of all Media of Technology-driven Modern Communication, none has proved to be as injurious and defacing as the latest, which is Social Media. So far, it is being used both positively and negatively. The most dangerous thing about it is that it is the most extensive and fastest means of communication. It has the ability to make or mar.
Last week witnessed a very unfortunate and sad exhibition of Man’s Viciousness Against Man. The Social Media was infested with a said telephone audio dialogue purportedly between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s Senior Special Assistant on General Duties; Chief Junior Erondu and a voice whose name was not decipherable as at the time of the purported dialogue.
Whoever that originated that post, I believe, had the intention of portraying Chief Erondu as the Caller in that Dialogue. I chose to call it Dialogue because while Chief Erondu was purportedly presented as the caller, the voice supposedly at the receiving end was purportedly making some responses. It could, therefore, not have been a Monologue, by classical Shakespearean example. To create a strong impression that the caller was Chief Erondu, his carved image was graphically attached to the call.
By the presentation, Chief Erondu was purported to be threatening the man at the receiving end never to write or say any thing about Abia State Government or any of its officials, be it on salaries, pensions or roads.
Purportedly, Chief Erondu reminded the person said to be at the receiving end that one Mopol, who is his biological elder brother, is said to be in incarceration on account of criticising Abia state government.
The telephone conversation went ahead to purportedly create the impression of fear by asking, if Mopol could be so treated, would any other critic be spared?
Continuing, the said threat purportedly wanted to know if the person at the receiving end knew why one Augustine has not been writing again against the State Government. He also asked him if he knew what had happened to Augustine.
After listening to the audio which was almost entirely in Ngwa dialect, I personally was unsettled. Many thoughts came over me. I was torn between the temptation of quickly taking side and condemning and making inquiries.
Always guided by the fact there are two sides to a coin, I decided to put a call across to Chief Erondu. I asked him if he was aware that a tape-recorded audio telephone threat was being circulated about him. He said he was. I then asked him why he should make such a threat. I think I was wrong to have made a conclusive statement instead of hearing his own side.
In an exceptional show of humility, Chief Erondu took his time to tell me that he has never had any telephone conversation with the person in question. He went further to state that the audio tape was, at best, a fallacy that only the originator(s) knows what it is aimed at achieving. He said that his happiness is that details of a caller and receiver of any call or conversation on any mobile phone can be easily and successfully ascertained by the concerned service provider.
At the end of my discussion with him, I was in a seeming state of dilemma. I did not know if I should believe Chief Erondu or take his denial askance.
But even in my seeming state of indecision, I did not lose hold of my knowledge of the Man, Chief Junior Erondu. I met Junior, as I call him, in 2001, when I was one of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu’s five Special Advisers. As the first Special Adviser on Grassroots’ Mobilization in Abia State, I had created mobilization structures in the local government areas and wards in the State.
Junior, who was just fresh from the University/NYSC, had been recommended to me by a friend and former Member of the House of Representatives from Obingwa local government area, Chief Macaulay Obia, a.k.a Zanza. Junior became my Cordinator of Grassroots’ Mobilization in Obingwa.
I became very fond of Junior because of the passion he had for his work, dexterity he exhibited in handling his responsibilities and, above all, transparency he unmistakably injected in the discharge of his assignment. Through a clinical study of his behavior, disposition and conduct, I discovered that Junior was a very truthful young man. He became my confidant, even as young as he was. Besides, Junior, as I knew him, was a grateful character, compared with many other young men who return kind gestures with conspiracy and betrayal.
In hindsight, my balance of judgment on the viral audio tilted favourably towards what Junior told me. I, however, decided to keep calm while watching events unfold the veracity or otherwise of the audio tape.
It is equally important to state here that Junior has always been very shy of the Press. From what he told me, he has never addressed the Press. On the viral audio tape, Junior categorically said he would not issue any public statement. According to him, the truth will surely unveil itself. As he put it, time and events will exonerate and vindicate him.
Yesterday, that predicted exoneration and vindication came the way of Junior! The Augustine that was mentioned in the controversial audio tape made a post on Social Media. He expressed displeasure with whoever was the brain behind the audio tape. He said the person was only being mischievous by dragging him into what he knew nothing about. He stated that Junior provided him with his first car, financed his marriage and was equally responsible for the comfortable apartment he currently lives in. He wondered why someone should try to label him as an ingrate by giving the false impression that he is at war with Junior.
Having listened to Junior’s denial of the purported threat, having also read Augustine’s post unequivocally disassociating himself from the said audio tape and strongly believing that Junior would prefer to keep the burden and pains of unfounded and unsustainable scandalous allegation to himself, it is my candid opinion that individuals of good conscience should say no to this wanton mischief that is, by every description, frivolous and unjustifiable.
Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abia State.
