_Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. However, you should be sure to answer their foolish arguments; otherwise, they may become wise in their own estimation_ .
— Proverbs 26:4-5 (NLT Version)
Anyone who fails to fact-check the individual on a trending video about everything he has said about the cause of the decline in ginger harvest and BT Cotton (GMO Cotton) during a recent broadcast on Nigeria Info radio station, before adopting his claims, demonstrates how gullible some Nigerians can be.
1. No one has asked this man (who is relatively unknown and lacks the necessary qualifications or training to speak authoritatively on biotechnology) for specifics about the farm inputs USAID provided to Nigerian farmers?
2. Which company is Tac integrated (or whatever)? Who owns it, and where is it based?
3. Is there anything like GMO ginger in Nigeria? Of course not!
4. What is the real cause of the ginger blight disease in Nigeria?
5. How did he come to the conclusion that Nigeria is facing biological warfare while the National Security Adviser is unaware?
6. In which village, town, or state in Nigeria was BT cotton cultivated, leading to barren land? Please the said farmers’ President he referred in the Business Day publication should name one verifiable location, whether a piece of land acknowledged by the Ministry of Agriculture, a local government council, a state, or even the federal government. Just one piece of land for the world to see!
7. How is it possible in this modern world that seeds planted would render a land barren? Even lands polluted by crude oil don’t remain barren indefinitely.
8. Were previous crop diseases, such as cassava mosaic, also a result of biological warfare against Nigeria?
Just a few posers!
Recently, a self-proclaimed doctor gained attention on social media by accusing GMOs and Bill Gates of being the source of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State. Are we really that irresponsible in our collective thinking?
Can we not be more fact-based as a society? It is no accident that our country is considered underdeveloped; it is a result of a collective choice to neglect the pursuit of knowledge that leads to progress, instead allowing ourselves to be misled by unverified myths and beliefs that resemble superstition. Look at other nations that have surpassed us in development, and consider whether anyone could confidently make unfounded claims on public radio of the reputation of Nigeria Info without being challenged? Simply because those claims resonate with individuals seeking excuses for our nation’s poor state of affairs shouldn’t make them acceptable without being fact-checked.
Just because well-meaning individuals knowledgeable in science and technology do not engage these charlatans in public debates does not mean the assertions by these charlatans are correct. Highly respected professors and scholars in plant and animal biology who are well known view it as a waste of time to debate with those lacking the capacity to comprehend fundamental scientific principles.
However, given the large number of people being misled, including so-called educated individuals, it has become necessary to confront these bold but false and ignorant claims, along with their promoters, for the benefit of those who seek the truth.
Purveyors of falsehood regarding GMOs have become a security risk. They are not unlike groups like Boko Haram; they spread lies and sow hatred against individuals working hard to improve the world and the wellbeingof Nigerians. They do not promote solutions; instead, they thrive on instilling fear through poorly constructed conspiracy theories. Their influence should not be underestimated, as some individuals even destroyed telecommunications masts during the last pandemic, believing conspiracy theorists who claimed that the 5G network caused COVID-19. These anti-GMO activists are not open to reason or humble enough to objectively examine the science. They have turned to lies to cause hate, even against some Nigerian citizens and the international donor community, to the extent that violence will soon follow.
Media houses should rise above the bandwagon effect of popular appetites for salacious stories, but become more responsible in demanding objective and authoritative sources for claims made by anyone.
Development is a choice by any people.
*Frank Tietie, Esq
Development Lawyer & Media Personality, writes from Abuja
