Why use of BlackBerry should be banned in Nigeria By Ali Adoyi

It will be unfair and totally an act of ingratitude for one not to appreciate the ingenuity of those behind the invention of Blackberry.  Their effort towards unifying the world and simplifying man’s work through the use of the smart phone cannot be appreciated enough.

I have been inspired by one of our prolific writers, Rita Okoye who recently wrote on how young ladies engage young men in a relationship through the use of blackberry phone. In her write-up, Rita carefully expunged how these girls play their game in the most disapproving way. Her write-up did not only open my eyes to the extent these desperate girls could go in their search for money, husband and connection, but was an eye opener to the general evil associated with the use of that witty machine called blackberry . In this article, I will slightly disagree with Rita who held unto one side of her argument without necessarily looking at the angle where the men also got it wrong and become guilty as well as the ladies.

I have looked at several arising issues in this modern day Nigeria. I have seen that Nigerians are real extremists in so many things. I have weighed the importance attached to one’s Blackberry phone and one’s wife, and the difference is clear. I have also weighed the difference between one’s food on the table and the smart phone, and the difference is obvious. It really doesn’t matter whether your wife is falling into a pit, so long as a man can hold on to his blackberry phone, there is no problem.  It doesn’t matter if a man stays awake throughout the night viewing display pictures of his contacts so long as some naughty pictures are displayed and some of the girls are willing to send their nude pictures to satisfy him. It doesn’t matter if a man drives into a pit or into another car so long as he responds to chats while he moves on the road. These are some of the things that are possible while using a blackberry mart phone.

But aside playing against the natural rules of life as a result of blackberry addiction,  some other issues of reckless spending and financial indiscipline are very important issues to be addressed in relation to the use of blackberry in Nigeria.  A man can abandon his responsibility in his home simply because his Blackberry internet service (BIS) has expired. Young people no longer read because they spend their time both day and night chatting with friends through the use of the blackberry phone. Pictures and music are downloaded on the go. Research has shown that most young people’s phones are full of depraved pictures downloaded from the internet; it’s quite easy to go to wapking and waptrick to get all sorts of terrible pictures downloaded into one’s bb phone.

Aside the above issues raised, masturbation has become the order of the day as young people share erotic pictures while in a distant relationship. The amount of time dedicated to blackberry cannot be compared to the few hours spent reading, and researching.  I know a child who can stay awake all through the night chatting with some faceless friends on her bb, and I keep wondering what she learns from the chats.

Investigation has recently revealed in Nigeria that blackberry has caused more evil than good. It has heated up the polity; it has led to broken marriages. Wives have been confronted by husbands why they can’t just let them have access to their phones. Men sleep with their heads on their blackberry phones. Analysis has shown that blackberry has got spirit that can easily possess someone. Recently, about 20 percent of road accidents within towns are caused by the use of this mobile device.

Rumour mongering has taken over the country, most of which are unfounded and baseless. If it is not by copying Charlyboy’s pictures from his DP and syndicating online with the ryder,  “Charlyboy goes nude again” it will be“ 2face Idibia is dead” or Chimaroke Nnamani is dead. The incessant broadcasts on security matters and on Boko Haram have actually downplayed the seriousness of the trouble we face in terms of security in the country at the moment. Why will people make senseless jokes out of what is gradually killing them? BB has made all of us talkative. On Blackberry, We talk so much, boast so much and cry so much about our situation, yet we do not act in relation to the same problems. One thing I know has happened to us is that action has been de-emphasized due to our plenty talk. We can criticize on BB, forward messages, instructing others to forward until it gets to the authority, but what happens after it gets to the authority? It simply explains that you are merely aware of the problems and some of their antics, but it further explains that we are incapable of asking direct questions because we are simply gullible-simply put, we as clueless as they are.

In Nigeria, Blackberry broadcasts spread rumour of crisis where there is no crisis; it talks about war where there is no war, and possibly about bomb blast where there is none.  Some of the broadcasts are capable of steering more crisis and hatred in a country that is already on the verge of collapse.

You may want to argue that the problem is not peculiar to Nigeria, and I will disagree with you.  Nigerians do not use blackberry in the most moderate way. The question any reasonable person should ask at the process of acquiring a blackberry phone is “why do I need it?” If you do not have a tangible answer why you have chosen to use the smart phone, don’t use it. This is not a campaign against blackberry; it’s rather a campaign against our wavering objective; our wobbly purpose and mission.  We tend to become group souls in what we do. We always go with the crowd; we are not exceptional in our standing. We feel ashamed each time we stand alone in a group, even when our reason for standing alone is genuine. Must we always go with the crowd if we must not?  Must I use the smart phone because friends tab the buttons away while walking through the streets, inside moluwe, or sitting at the owner’s corner of a Keke Napepe? Blackberry accident is funny but disastrous; the next step you are about to take while tapping away with rapt attention is taking you into a gutter; a woman could burn her pot while cooking because she is tapping away-sad day for the husband and the children.

I use blackberry, but I do not allow Blackberry to use me. The day Blackberry will use me is the day I will drop it. If we cannot be moderate with the use of this phone, then my next memo to the government is to push for the ban of this seductive mobile phone. Thank God, I have someone like David Mark who will always support my motion. My imagination speaks “Those in support of the continuous use of BB in Nigeria should say “I” – “IIIIIIIIII” those against should say “nay” -“nay” Gbam…the“I’s have it… Gbam…