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Rumour :An Alternate Means Of
Communication In Nigeria
By Gbemiga Bamidele
Newsdiaryonline Thur Oct 6,2011
Bamidele
Rumour mongering constitutes one of the most common, but least
understood modes of social interaction. It is often referred to
as common talk or hear say. It is also regarded as news which
has no factual basis, as well as something which carries a
perjorative connotation.
According to William Shakespeare in Henry IV, “Rumour is a pipe
blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures and of so easy and so
plain a stop that the blunt monster with uncounted heads. The
still discordant wavering multitude can play on it…”.
Rumour is defined as “talk” or opinion widely disseminated with
no discernable “source” or a “current” statement of report
without known authority for its truth (Webster, 1992).
Similarly, Collins English dictionary and Thesaurus (2006)
defined rumour as unproved statement, gossip or common talk,
story, buzz, gossip, hearsay, whisper…..
Rumour plays an extremely important role in every facet of human
endeavour from the ordinary individual level to business,
politics and governance. In countries like America, the issue of
rumour had attracted the establishment of clinics where every
story not proceeding out of institutional channels are analyzed
and critically examined in the light of uniform standards.
However, the history of Nigerian nation is replete with various
degree of rumour from the seemingly ordinary to the bizarre.
Rumour consequently has a range of conventional properties that
can be utilized in diverse ways. This underscores the importance
of rumour in Nigeria. However, it is important to note that the
effect of rumour has been diverse. From distruction to lives and
properties,distruption of public peace, stagnation in business
growth, sullied public image,fear and anxiety. Insidious and
destructive as rumour may seem, it also possesses the fluidity
in interpersonal relationship amongst individuals engaged in it,
especially within the context of a developing nation like
Nigeria.
Rumour stories in Nigeria had ranged from those on issues,
individuals and policies; though different times in history;
from peace time to time of war!. In Nigeria, rumour becomes a
process of explanation because stories about individuals either
in their official or private capacities became items that the
media had also oftentimes helped in perpetrating.
Such stories includes the following amongst others:
i.
In 1993, Fan Milk Plc,
an organization that produces various dairy products was said to
be owned by Francis Arthur Nzeribe, an opprobrious politician.
The organization had to spend huge sum of money to buy media
space to deny the rumour to stern irate mob’s action.
ii.
Procter and Gamble in Nigeria fulfilling one of its corporate
responsibilities distributed free samples of its Always Sanitary
Pad in 2003 to female undergraduate students in the University
of Maiduguri. One of the beneficiaries said that she contacted
AIDS after its use.
iii.
Late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha was said to have died
after eating apples from three ladies – of Indian accent.
iv.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was said to (a) Maintain a
detention camp in his Ota farm (b)Kill his workers in his Ota
farm under the pretext of stealing (c) Killed his wife, Stella
apparently for rituals to stay in power beyond 2007 (d)
Mastermind Bola Ige’s and S.M Afolabi’s death for selfish
reasons.
v.
Yar’adua’s rumoured death, chronicled how leaders in Nigeria had
been objects of various forms of rumour, ranging from the
seemingly harmless to the overtly destructive.
Rumour has the following characteristics
i.
It can rarely if ever be traced back to its origin
ii.
It can spread (almost) at the speed of light
iii.
It will spread only if the rumour has the momentum of
credibility (even if this credibility is only the size of a
pinch of salt), and
iv.
It thrives in close-nit communities that have either no regular
or formal channels of communication or channels which are
inefficient or not recognized as important.
Good news rarely travels as quickly as bad. In organization,
rumours often circulates most strongly in sub-cultures of those
people generally well down in the hierarchy and who tend to be
last in the queen when information is passed through formal
channels.
The only antidote to rumour is efficient, full and open,
participative communication, with strong lines of horizontal as
well as vertical interaction. The impact of rumour is rarely
beneficial, in the main, rumour is corrosive of relationships,
fuels suspicion and bad feeling. Its favorite habitat is a
communication vacuum.
One dubious compensation is that the subjects or “victims”, of
rumour are generally the last to hear of it; unless, of course,
they started the rumour themselves.
In as much as the counter measure or remedy for rumour is
efficient, full and open, participative communication, there is
a desperate and crucial need for transparency in government
decision making, procedures, processes, investment decisions,
contract,and procurement and appointments. The essence of this
transparency is to finally laid rumour to eternal rest and also
prevent corruption thereby enhancing economic efficiency and
effectiveness. In an open and accountable manner, government
will be able to obtain citizens’ willing cooperation in
mobilizing resources for development.
Bamidele, Assistant National Secretary, 1 of NUJ can be
contacted on e-mail:
liftmeahead@yahoo.com,
or +234 8033237973.
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