Still on the Ganduje videos

I thought last week’s column would be explosive, but I didn’t know it would set the Nigerian social media space on fire.

After the publication, I was at home in Minna when I received a call from Government House Kano. The caller, whom I know, expressed his appreciation for the article and wanted to tee up a meeting with Oga so that he could show appreciation.

I didn’t see anything wrong with this. Writers receive appreciations through emails , text messages and phone calls all the time. Also, I believed that my friend’s gesture was sincerely done and not to influence me in anyway – afterall the article had already been written.

Yet I felt that oga’s appreciations was not necessary.

“I was just doing my work, which is writing,” I told him.

Thereafter, I appreciated the call and finished the conversation.

Yet, I was left with the lingering feeling that my ‘no’ was not hard enough.

So later, I sent the following message.

“Assalamu alaikum X. Thank you so much for your call earlier. But you don’t really need to connect me with oga. I was just doing my work.”

The summary of this is that I’m a writer. I write. What I write may favour you today. Tomorrow it wouldn’t.

I believe that if I collect money from beneficiaries of my writing, I wouldn’t be able write about them critically in the future. And I cherish my independence. Many approach me with the promise of cash from time to time to write for them.

Probably I would have more money saved if I say yes to them. But half the month, my account is empty.

However, before writing last week, I did joke with friends that “what I am about to write will be a lot of money o, if I were going to sell.”

This is the truth. The column was meant to educate. And I took the time to sketch this narrative path to pull the reader into the picture.

However, if you’re still finding it difficult to get the message, the following reactions to the article from home and abroad capture the essence of the piece. Before then however, let me first share the one that doesn’t quite capture essence, although I find it funny.

My friend, Shuaibu Ali, from Kano State wrote:

“Had it been I was the governor of Kano State I would have immediantly credited your account with millions; plus, awarding a contract to show appreciation.  I tagged your write up ‘’in defence of Ganduje;’’ really Prof, oga, sir, you convinced Ganduje, my humble self and general people of Kano State to think again concerning the videos – seeing that it generated alot of controvercies  in Kano State. Somebody in Niger state must be emulated. We learned and we enjoyed. You really changed my thinking.”

Abudugana, my friend  in the United States wrote:

“Hi Dooba,

That’s an amazing one on Ganduje. Highly educating. Thanks for bringing knowledge to the matter.”

A friend, Isqil Najim, from Lagos sent the following:

“I hope you will write more of this… this is classic and really more people need to read it.

“Please be our columnist. That article you wrote is one of the most important I have read ..not because I have not seen the evidence but because no one has done anything to do such explanation  on such things that ravage the society.

“On my part I had exhausted a lot of my energy trying to dehunk fake news on groups as well in real life, including  manipulated pictures and videos. . But I didn’t know about that particular  technology  you mentioned until today.  I am sure I am not alone.”

Dr. Shafii Hamidu, from Malaysia wrote:

“DeepFake! Deep learning is something I have read and researched on. In short, right now it is one of the hottest topics in computing. We also have some works in related algorithms like the CNN, AI schemes and ANN. However, I never looked the way of DeepFake.

“After reading Dr. Ibraheem Dooba’s article this morning,  I went straight to some academic databases and downloaded some recent articles on the topic. So, while [some of] you keep debating Gandolla and DeepFake videos, I will be reading and learning the techniques behind the tech.

“While you see a defense of Ganduje in that piece, me see something different. Actually, we see differently! Dooba just inspired me to look the other way. We are learning everyday.”

Engr. Rabi’u Dodo Gumel wrote in from Jigawa State:

“Malam Ibrahim, I have been an ardent follower of your articles in Daily Trust since your “Malaysian Years”, but this piece on Ganduje is superb; thank you for unlocking my brain.”