29 Oct 2008 |
|
Hakeem Babalola The SSS arrest and detention of Jonathan Elendu, publisher Elendu.com, is expected to have been given wide coverage, especially by the Nigerian press. But alas, it has received levity treatment by the Nigerian celebrity columnists (apology to Sabella Abbide) and reporters alike. Although the incident took place within their vicinity at the Nnamidi Azikiwe airport Abuja , it was the online publications - pointblanknews and Saharareporters that broke the news. Even when the publisher was charged with sedition by the State Security Service (SSS), only Punch gave it wide coverage. If it were to be an American journalist or citizen that was illegally arrested in such manner, the Nigerian press would have gone gaga. We would have seen the likes of Abati, Kolawole, Momodu and the rest spitting fire. As each day wax, I keep asking myself why Nigerian journalists keep silent on this one. Is it because they don't regard the online publisher as one of their own? Even if they don't, I think arresting someone for sedition is big news in its entirety. Or have they made up their mind that online journalists are "guerrilla" journalists? Or is it because they could not distinguish Elendu the journalist from Elendu the blackmailer? Interesting enough, Compass newspaper which published the initial arrest treated it with such tone that depicts opinion instead of a newsreport. It screamed: Online publisher, Elendu faces money laundering charges. The reporter, Dipo Kehinde, claimed an unknown source in his report which sounds as if he bears grudge with online publishers and writers. Even though Kehinde reported that the customs officials at the airport had cleared his baggage but he was immediately intercepted and arrested by SSS officials, he seemed to be too much in haste to realise the actual function of the SSS. Thanks to the vigilant observation of a public commentator, Gwobezentashi who in his response to my article, stated that it was impossible for Elendu to have been arrested for money laundering by the SSS since such case belongs to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) or the police, while SSS only get involved in issues bothering on "national security". Gwobezentashi is right; Kehinde is wrong, for Elendu has since been charged with sedition and not money laundering or any financial crime. Most Nigerian online publishers have been in the vanguard of fighting against press repression in their home country. They often bring it to the world attention whenever there's press brutality against journalists in Nigeria . For instance, most of these publishers gave the recent clamp down on Channels TV wide coverage. Even Nigerian writers living abroad contributed enormously through comments and analysis over the illegal closure and harassment of Channels TV staff. Why then is the Nigerian press not reciprocating? Perhaps it has to do with the nature of reporting considered to be too aggressive or too reckless by the mainstream or orthodox media in Nigeria . If my assumption is right, then we need to clarify what reckless journalism is about. Some segment of the Nigerian media would even accuse certain websites of practicing guerrilla journalism. Whilst it's true that some of these websites have gone the extra mile to fight bad governance in their home country, it is worth noting that most of their "aggressive" reports have been accurate than speculation. Furthermore, it is difficult for me to dismiss their unorthodox approach - guerrilla or reckless - when the ruling class seems to be using guerrilla tactics in administering the nation. I see it as improper for a president to vamoose for almost a month without proper explanation. It is also a highly irregular behaviour for a president to lie about his or her health status. As I posited somewhere, the wayward of the ruling class paves way for such aggressive reporting, most of which the mainstream media in Nigeria could not report. Many a time newspapers in Nigeria would cull reports and articles from these websites. These Nigerian publishers abroad should be commended for their efforts at reporting and, or publishing what seems unorthodox to their Nigerian counterparts. There is nothing wrong in exposing what is bad in one's society. The only time I will disagree with such tactics is, if these publishers deviate from the initial struggle - fighting bad governance. As long as blackmailing is out of question, and as long as the report is accurate, we need to encourage these Nigerians. Their contributions - guerrilla or not - might be part of the inevitable quiet revolution many Nigerians have been chewing like kola-nut. It would be a grave mistake if the Nigerian media see these online publishers as competitors. Although some of these publishers appear to be radical, such radicalism is needed in a nation where one man can steal a horse while another must not look at its halter. Moreover, the cardinal point of journalism is courage, accuracy and honesty. So if Jonathan Elendu is accurate in his reports, it would be antithesis of Yar'Adua's proclamation regarding rule of law to illegally detain him further. I can't understand why the authority keeps making the same mistake over human rights abuse. There are too many contradictions in Yar'Adua's rule of law. However, I am most disappointed that such illegal arrest and detention have not been given adequate coverage by the Nigerian press who should know better. Instead, it is individuals and the civil rights organisations that have been calling for the release of Elendu, who has just been released as I type this sentence. Even though he has been released, it would be appropriate for the SSS to clarify through press conference why its men arrested and detained Elendu for eleven days. The SSS should be reasonable in its approach on this issue. For instance, let us know more about how Elendu tried to pay into the account of Harrison Ba Princewill at Zeinth bank while doing the story, "Who Is Using EFCC to Hunt Amaechi?" Whilst I understand the need for caution in their approach to news reporting in Nigeria , journalists based in Nigeria should not dismiss the aggressiveness of online citizen journalists who are using the internet revolution to call for a society where there is an assurance of equity and social justice. As I said, accuracy and honesty should be our concern as many of us have taken an interest in matters of government, so as not to live under the government of worse men. And as one Emerson posits, "Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis." Copyright 2008 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com
|
|||||||||
# 
Your Comments
Please make The Square an enjoyable experience for everyone by refraining from gratuitous ad-hominem contributions, defamatory comments and off-topic posting. Such posts will be removed.