Social media have revealed several appalling sides of the average Nigerian and one of the most disgusting of them all is, poking their noses into other peoples’ business.
They pick up a rumour or gossip and pass it on, with added embellishments, such that in one hour, whoever first started it, may not know it is same tale he or she started.
I have come to observe that much of the interest in gossip and rumour or fake news as may be the case, is predicated on malicious intent.
People actually believe the most unlikely stories, not because they are stupid, but because they really wish the story to be true, so they can delight in someone else’s misfortune, tragedy or sorry story.
It is a form of depravity really, where people take pleasure in other people’s pain, particularly when it is about people they don’t “like’.
Let us take the frenzy one social media, over talk that the “cabal” has arranged Sadia Umar Farouq, the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Management Disaster, as second wife, for PMB.
Some of us really, wonder how this could be the subject of public frenzy.
When did it become a story that a Muslim, may be taking a second wife, when the religion permits as many as the man can love?
Atiku had two on his campaign train, apart from others who keep out of sight and no issue has been made of this.
So what is the big deal in Buhari, a Muslim, taking a second wife, especially when as the story goes, the person in question is not a child bride?
*Eyo Akpan is a Lagos based social commentator
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