Nollywood actress, Lala Akindoju expressed her disappointment in colleague cum politician, Desmond Elliot, over his criticism of social media.
Elliot, on Thursday, October 29, scolded Nigerian youths, during the plenary session of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
While accusing celebrities of stoking violence during the protest against police brutality in Nigeria, the 46-year-old groaned that the influence of social media was eroding the culture of Nigerian society.
He also lamented the weird boldness of the younger generation who use social media to talk back at their elders.
“Mr Speaker, we need to address certain things; the Nigerian youths, the social media, the social influencers. All these are changing the narratives we see today, except we are joking with ourselves.
“Social media, yes, it’s good! But it has a negative impact. Let me first thank you for condemning wanton killings and carnage that happened at Lekki. When I went through the comments, I could not believe it, Mr Speaker.
“The curses, the abuses from children, and I asked myself, is this Nigeria? What’s going on? Children cursing? People having the effrontery to enter an Oba’s palace, hold the staff of the office? Culture is gone.
“Mr Speaker, in the next five years, there will be no Nigeria if we don’t start now. The youth is not only those who did the peaceful protest; those who have looted, who have destroyed lives; they are youths as well.
“Mr Speaker, the pregnant entered the mosque, picked things and went away. When shall we change this narrative? I put it to all these celebrities out there, all the motivational speakers, this is the only country we have.
“The wealthy will go. When anything happens, what is our common saying? ‘We die here.’ Please, celebrities, please social media influencers, stop this already. You have a means constitutionally to change the government. It’s called your PVC,” the lawmaker had said.
Reacting to Elliot’s statement, Akindoju wrote: “So the people that went to loot did so because of social media? Not because of the bad leadership & years of terrible corruption??? ‘Celebrities’ & ‘Influencers’ spoke up as frustrated Nigerians. So the police are killing us and you care about insults? In your opinion, Hon Desmond, Social media is what will make us “lose” Nigeria in the next 5 years? Not constitutional reforms? Not accountability from leaders? Not empathy from leaders? Not protection from the police? Anyway, thank you for reminding us that leaders like you should be voted out @DesmondElliot_“
She continued: “This “respect” mentality has really done a number on us in Nigeria. Hon Desmond is more concerned about “children” cursing on social media than he is about better governance and true leadership. Again he has shown us his priorities.”