The Nigerian Press and Alhaji Babatunde Jose

by Professor Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai

Undoubtedly, the late Alhaji (Dr) Babatunde Jose was one of those Nigerian nationalists, who pressed for Nigerian independence using the medium of the print media. He single-handedly took Nigerian journalism to new horizons and through training, the advancement of many Nigerian journalists, who later became influential media people. These gentlemen have expressed their gratitude in their glowing tributes.

Our pressmen during colonial rule were authentic, explosively candid and at times, decidedly infuriating. After independence, they did not hesitate to unmask the blundering hypocrisy of our political elite. The new breed journalists still do. Some of our journalists often expose the opportunism, incompetence and cynical deceit that have become imbedded in the fabric of our failed policies. They also applaud efforts at a new beginning.

In his essays, Alhaji Jose preferred the biographical approach in which the author’s real lifes’experiences are used as useful references to illuminate issues in narration. It makes essays more interesting and captivating rather than the academic format, in which sophistry beclouds the story-teller’s message.

I little enjoy reading verbose essays, full of quotes from other master essayists. I do not approve of greatness by association. The writings of Alhaji Jose and Chief Alade Odunewu were pathfinders, which helped us distinguish the subordinate clause from a phrase, in a sentence during our college days. English grammar was made less mystical and confusing.

Of all Nigerian institutions, I love the press more. The Nigerian Press has been stable and virile. It has withstood dictators and the mindless violence of people in transient authority. Through their hard-hitting editorials, the leading newspapers have made constructive suggestions on critical issues concerning Nigerian governance and statecraft.

With the increase in literacy on a nation-wide basis, the quality of feature articles, commentaries and reportage in Nigerian newspapers has reached international standards. As a result, Euro-American libraries have contemporary Nigerian newspapers on their shelves as reference materials.

As Legal Adviser on International Trade at the Henry Stephens Group in Lagos, I often represented the Chairman, Chief Henry Fajemirokun at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  The Lagos Chamber once requested Alhaji Babatunde Jose to launch a business newspaper.  In a few months, the Business Times was born. The publication was very useful as an index of Nigerian commercial direction.

Alhaji Jose must have felt some discomfort over the delay in passing the Freedom of Information Bill and the emerging culture of the press distorting facts and engaging in hyperbolic narrations of tendentious posturing by anti-trust campaigners. Since what is published is for the whole world to see, the negative effect on our international trade is incalculable.

These sponsored image-destroying publications also dissuade our compatriots overseas from thoughts of home-coming.

 I salute the enlightened and more circumspect sector of the Nigerian Press for its patriotic posture and intellectual depth.  I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Jose family and his wider family, the Nigerian Press.

Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai is the Academic Chancellor, Bosas International Legal Bureau, Abuja, FCT.

Robot  # 1 | 04.08.2008 06:55

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