In Nigeria, however, instead of assembling the building blocks of a stable and progressive pluralistic society, groups of vile and divisive ethnic entrepreneurs are now instigating a retreat to ethnic fascism disguised as nationalism. Their playing ground is social media, and their hate mongering is gaining so much momentum that even educated cosmopolitans are being seduced. Therefore, we must regulate the extremism in social media and excommunicate those who seek to sow the seeds of ethnic discord. We can do this by leaning on social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to censor bigotry and suspend accounts that promote such extremism. There will be no return to kingdoms, so we are better off learning the lessons of multiculturalism from Brighton and Hove and shun the destruction that ethnic nationalism guarantees.

Source: The Guardian July 31, 2024 15:47 UTC