He is a social media personality and new media activist. Widely known through his Twitter handle, 'Eggheader', Seun Odewale is currently concluding the first part of a Doctorate program at the renowned Harvard University, US. In fact, he became a Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University where he is conducting research on how new technology has impacted open societies and the politics of control associated with innovative adoption of technology to governance in Africa through his social media activities. Odewale spoke to Tundun Adeyemo, Special Correspondent, UK recently about religion, politics and the future of Nigeria. Excerpts:
How is it that your parents are Muslims and you are a Humanist? Where did they go wrong?
Go wrong? I cannot say they went wrong anywhere or at any point. I think there has been a misconception of the whole notion around humanism. I had explained this before that humanists are not necessarily atheists and that there are humanists in almost every religious or non-religious groupings there are. I believe I abdicated Islam as a result of my own self-consciousness or the realization of the profound benevolence of the Godhead. Now let me say that my parents are the liberal type. I recall growing up and going to church on Sundays with some of our neighbours. Back in the day, folks who live in rented apartments in same building naturally form one huge family. My mom used to get us set for church on Sundays and we would (all the children that is) all cram ourselves into the neighbours’ car. My parents did not go to church but my sister and I were always part of the Sunday, Sunday churchly delegation.
Would you say Nigeria can achieve a truly humanistic or secular state?
This will depend largely on whether Nigerians are truly ready for change. And that change will only commence the very day that “Love Your Neighbour As Thyself” becomes a reality. There are many people who already would dismiss my person for not being a Christian nor a Muslim, even if in name only. It does not matter to them if I fulfil the tenets under these religious persuasions so long as I lay claim to being one. Then again a humanistic society is not a secular state nor is a secular state necessarily humanistic. There is however what we call secular humanism, which encompasses a set of beliefs that encourages human values without specific allusion to religious doctrines. By law, Nigeria is supposed to be a secular state but I don’t know anyone who’s been elected into any public office who has not been profiled on the basis of his ethnic origin or religious affiliation. I just imagine that I wish to contest for an elective office today with my repeated avowals against Christianity or Islam, I am sure to be evaluated on basis of that alone rather than on competence or suitability for the said-elective position.
Do you think the newly registered APC stands a realistic chance in terms of fielding good candidates, offering a viable opposition and winning the 2015 Presidential elections?
Fielding good candidates? Yes, as is already evident by some of the names of those who hold political office under its banner. Offering viable opposition? I think the APC has its work cut out for it already. Indeed one wants to see that it takes opposition beyond the usual criticisms and condemnations of the ruling party, but then that is the nature of opposition politics and in a highly charged political society like Nigeria, one does not begin to expect the APC to lay bear all its development agenda or governance proposals for the learning or copy-and-paste opportunity of the ruling party. How the APC positions itself, reads and reacts to the present crises in the ruling PDP, manages the states where it holds sway, and change the narratives around politics in Nigeria may be what will determine whether or not it wins the 2015 presidential election.
A US agency has been quoted to have predicted that 2015 may mark the end of Nigeria’s democracy and unity. Do you share this pessimistic view?
One would be careful to agree or disagree with the USG on its postulations that Nigeria will cease to exist post-2015 in the sense that I am not privy to the entire data that was available to the analysts who reached the said-conclusion. Be that as it may, it seems to me that many of our political leaders, starting from the president to just about everybody in the country, are working towards this pre-determined end. A president that will continue to pride himself as having delivered development and growth contrary to general angst and public perception must surely be keen to help the USG in fulfilling its prediction for the country. For instance, rather than tackling the Boko Haram insurgency headlong and decisively, the president presented himself as a victim of his place of origin with an outward attitude that the security crisis was exclusive to the north and will fizzle out once the perpetrators tire out. Many months later when he finally decided to act, the problem had grown out of proportions and out of what his army is able to contain. A president that has time for a marathon meeting with a bunch of renegade politicians from his party cannot be serious in keeping the country together. Since ASUU has been on strike, has the president met with them? The only transformation agenda on Mr President’s table is re-election in 2015. Every other thing can be damned as far as he’s concerned.
How do you combine Twitter activism, political work and your academic researches?
My social media engagements are extra-curricular for me and I often use the time to refresh my brains when they get clogged or when my mood is not suitable for writing those academic papers demanding of my mental comprehension. And by the way, political work is presently in abeyance, which I might not pick up unless or until I return to Nigeria. In addition, some of the engagements on social media for me feed into my researches and academic work. A couple of those who follow me are actually my students. So there’s an anthropology to it.
You are a dynamic young man, what nuggets of wisdom have you got for younger Nigerians, especially with regards to how they can get involved with 2015 elections? While I agree that I am a dynamic man, I do not continue to see myself as ‘young’ relatively speaking. I don’t speak nuggets, because almost all of it has been said as literature is replete with all the nuggets there are needed for life or for living. Nonetheless, my admonition to young Nigerians is to recognize their roles and responsibilities in the development of the country. It is important to repeat that youth is a transient stage of life and what is missed may never be regained. Your engagements must conform to your avowed beliefs on building a greater nation than we presently have. No one will willingly handover power or leadership to you. You must brace yourself, be determined and make educated push towards attaining leadership. I like to also mention that however you want to perform or behave when in politics or government is exactly how you must behave or live life when you’re not in it. If you don’t want to be corrupt inside government, you must not be corrupt now. You cannot live through shunting queues or picking when to obey the laws and think you would magically become different when you get the opportunity to be in public office. The focus must also be beyond 2015. It must be more longer term than just the next election. It must not even be about elective offices alone. It must cover appointive offices and also the ramifications of governance mechanisms leading into 2015 and beyond. One must assess his or her capacities and know where it fits suitably into then look for those already involved who can hold your hands without squeezing it and help you get your footing in your political journey.