It is no longer unusual to see allegations that some politicians employ people to defend them online, attack their opponents and drown out criticism. The disturbing part is that some of those recruited into these online battles are citizens who are themselves struggling with the consequences of Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.
The irony is difficult to ignore.
Nigerians are confronting unemployment, insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, hunger, poor infrastructure and widespread poverty. Yet, instead of directing their frustration towards demanding accountability from those entrusted with public office, some people are reportedly paid small sums to praise politicians, attack their critics and defend controversial decisions or actions.
This raises a fundamental question: How did we get to a point where people suffering from the consequences of the country’s problems are being mobilised to defend the political interests of those in power?
When propaganda replaces accountability
Political support is a legitimate part of democracy. Citizens have every right to support the candidates, parties and political leaders of their choice.
But there is a crucial difference between genuine political support and organised propaganda.
A supporter may defend a politician because they believe in the person’s policies or record. But when people are allegedly paid to manufacture praise, attack critics and deliberately drown out legitimate questions, political engagement begins to move away from debate and towards manipulation.
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The danger is not merely the insults that appear on social media. It is what those insults can prevent.
Every time a legitimate question about governance is buried beneath personal attacks, the public loses an opportunity to examine an issue that may affect millions of people.
Every time criticism is dismissed simply because it comes from an opponent, accountability suffers.
And every time political loyalty becomes more important than facts, citizens become participants in a system that ultimately works against their own interests.
Public pain, private interests
Nigeria continues to face serious economic and social challenges. While citizens struggle with the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate public services, allegations of corruption and misuse of public resources remain part of the national conversation.
There have also been accusations that some politicians and their associates prioritise the welfare of their families and close networks, including opportunities abroad, while ordinary Nigerians remain exposed to deteriorating living conditions.
Such allegations should not be treated as established facts without evidence. They should be investigated by the appropriate institutions, scrutinised by the media and tested against verifiable information.
What should not replace evidence, however, is propaganda.
Neither praise nor abuse establishes the truth.
A politician is not innocent simply because supporters attack his critics. Equally, a politician is not guilty simply because opponents make accusations against him.
The responsibility of citizens is to demand evidence, ask questions and allow credible institutions to establish the facts.
Hired to insult, paid to defend
One of the most disturbing features of political discourse on social media is the apparent transformation of political disagreement into personal warfare.
Instead of answering questions about governance, some online voices resort to insults.
Instead of addressing concerns about public spending, they attack the person raising the concern.
Instead of explaining a policy, they attempt to discredit anyone questioning it.
Hired to insult. Paid to defend. Used to silence criticism.
That is the disturbing face of political propaganda in the age of social media.
Social media was supposed to give ordinary citizens a stronger voice. It was supposed to make it easier for people to question those in power.
But when coordinated online campaigns are used to intimidate critics or manufacture artificial public approval, the same technology can become a tool for suppressing meaningful debate.
Do not sell your conscience for crumbs
Nobody should allow a few crumbs to become the price of their conscience.
The immediate financial benefit of defending a politician cannot be compared with the long-term consequences of poor governance on society.
The person paying you to praise him today may not be the person who pays your hospital bill tomorrow.
The politician you defend online may not be able to protect your family from insecurity.
The government you aggressively defend may still leave you struggling with unemployment, inflation, poor infrastructure or inadequate public services.
Political loyalty should never require citizens to surrender their capacity for independent thought.
A responsible supporter should be able to say: “I support this politician, but I disagree with this decision.”
That is not betrayal.
That is democracy.
Nigeria needs citizens, not online soldiers
The country cannot build a healthy democracy if political conversations are dominated by abuse, propaganda and blind loyalty.
Citizens should learn to distinguish between genuine political support and paid advocacy.
Before sharing a claim, ask: Is it true?
Before attacking a critic, ask: What exactly is being criticised?
Before defending a politician, ask: Does the evidence support the defence?
And before accepting money to promote a political narrative, ask a much bigger question: What are we sacrificing in exchange for the money?
Nigeria belongs to all of us.
No politician owns the country. No political party owns the truth. And no political interest should be powerful enough to make citizens abandon their responsibility to question those entrusted with public resources.
The country is bigger than any politician, party or personal interest.
If we truly want a better Nigeria, we must stop defending individuals at the expense of the nation.
We must demand evidence instead of propaganda, accountability instead of blind loyalty, and substantive debate instead of online abuse.
Democracy needs citizens who can think independently, question authority and hold leaders accountable.
Nigeria does not need more voices paid to defend power. It needs more citizens willing to speak truth to power.
Written by Festus Edovia, ANIPR, FICM
