It seems that Yar'Adua's administration is playing upon the emotional intelligence of its people whom it had sworn to protect come rain or sunshine. In order to portray his administration as a rapt listener, Mallam yar'Adua has resulted to a policy well managed by one of the ex-military heads of state. It is called policy of appeasement. He is trying hard to please his people by all means possible. I have chosen to believe that the anointed president is doing things right without doing the right thing. Though it was a pre-judgment, I had called the attention of Nigerians at the beginning of this administration that Yar'Adua would most likely adopt Babangida's style rather than the Owu man who installed him. The aftermath of the current face off between this administration and Channels TV is a quick example in which the former bowed to undue pressure from the elite. But Yar'Adua definitely knows what he’s doing.

Well, I expect Nigerians to know what Babangida means in the polity of Nigeria. He took Nigerians on a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat. He ran a cool dangerous regime until he dribbled himself to score own goal. After grabbing power from Buhar/Idiagbon, Babangida stole Nigerian hearts including the press with his false smile. He courted the media and successfully married her in a well-televised ceremony. The press hailed him; he was fondly called the President instead of Head of State. He was loved because nobody knew or thought that a mere soldier could be so smart in applying a policy of appeasement. He cajoled even the most honest men in the country at the time - Tai Solarin. The sage Awolowo was also lured into the entrapped boat when he visited the smiling president at the Dodan Barrack.

Because of the respect the people had for the media, it was very easy for the fourth Estate of the realm to bring them on board for the tempestuous journey. Media practitioners dined and wined with the new Khaki boy in civilian attire. They strongly believe the Messiah had come to rescue the nation. It was a sigh of relief especially after the Buhari/Idiagbon draconian frown face. The romance or marriage lasted until the bride realised the truth about the union. The whole ceremony had been a decoy; a bait to hook the biggest fish. Trust the media. Immediately its practitioners smelled rat, they turned back but it was too late. And so one of them, a brilliant young man named Dele Giwa was letter bombed in his home on October 19, 1986. Subsequent events were a painful lesson for the press. Have they learned?

Then entered the madman who probably thought the best way to protect his villa was to uproot the vine that had spread all over the garden. Abacha was too reckless to know the significant of a policy of appeasement, or perhaps he thought it won't work twice. He might have sensed that the media won't be twice foolish. And so he went for the jugular; ready to kill en masse. For him, it's illusion in absolute for anyone to believe that pen is mightier than sword or gun. No, the axiom is wrong, totally wrong. He resulted to guerrilla rule and so was the media. Most journalists started operating underground. It was indeed pen vs. sword or gun. The media came up with a new brand of reporting known as guerrilla just like the government in power. Reckless headlines became scoop. No one border to check their facts. Any news about Abacha would be taken hook, line and sinker by the people who had already started praying for his demise.

The man meant business, so was the press. They had it rough but Abacha miscalculated thinking he could cage the wounded lion. He needed to extricate the big guys among the journalists. He did not use bomb probably because he considered such act cowardice and old fashioned. The more he brutalised their minds the more they became determined to fight him. He was using gun; they were using pen. Although the war brought the best out of the press, it was also the beginning of unverified reports. But you ought to give it to the press. Being a journalist quickly became synonymous to courage. They fought and fought and so they became addicted; habitual to unconfirmed reports. This is quite unfortunate because every government would use this against the media. 

There is no doubting the fact that Nigerian journalists were at their best during the authoritarian regimes. But then it would have its impact; a permanent scare on their psychic which may mar or make the practice of journalism in the country. Thus another era of reporting had begun. The press was definitely hooked to Abacha's irregular rule, and so it was difficult for them to function properly under the new "democrazy" headed by Obasanjo who simply detests the media. Obasanjo enjoyed making fun of the media. Reports had it that he once compared dogs with journalists in a sign contemptuously placed at his gate. It was also reported that he once caned a journalist at "our" Ota farm. He even told the nation that those reading social related courses "are simply wasting their time". Such is the level of contempt he has for journalists. Perhaps that's why he rejected the Freedom of Information bill. The media must be naive to have thought that Obasanjo would sign such bill, especially when his political enemies were rushing to establish newspapers or magazines.

Then there is our "servant" leader who needs the support of the media more than anything in order to solidify his mandate which is still before the Supreme Court as I write. He is courting the media like his mentor did during the early years of his reign. But the once bitten twice shy Nigerian press has not forgotten what happened to its members from 1983 to 1998. It was a period of enlightenment, brutality, appeasement, draconian law, dribbling, assassination, letter bomb, and a fake frown smiling face. A critical moment of awakening for journalists, but have they learned? So, the press refused to fall for the bait by rejecting Yar'Adua's romance. Rejection is trauma. This might have angered the slow poison man who must find a way to ridicule or discredit the media. He might have sent his agents out on a mission. They fed the press rumours about his health but it wasn't successful.

Then they thought of resignation. What about instigating a rumour that Mr. President is resigning on the ground of ill-health! Phew, Channels TV fell for it. Mission accomplished. The fact that Channels TV quickly retracted the story did not matter. Security agents stormed the office, arrested and detained some of the staff - for false publication - since Mr. President is still hale and healthy. Meanwhile, NBC had suspended Channels TV licence. There was outcry in the country most especially from members of the press and some notable Nigerians including Gani Fawehinmi. They cried, "This is dictatorship; Another Bubang Abasanjo era". There's something frantic in their gaiety that baffles me. They should have known that no government would accept any false report likely to jeopardise the "national security". But it worked like magic. Some days later, the detained journalists were released and Channels TV licence restored. Whatever, the point has been made; the media integrity is in question.

But I suspect it isn't over yet. Anyway why did the Channels TV licence suspended, staff detained and arrested if some days later everything would be as if they had committed no offence? For me, this is the crux of the matter. A well-planned scenario: SSS to arrest and detain the journalists then Yar'Adua would come to their rescue after the outcry. See, a policy of appeasement. I know that Yar'Adua needs it but he must be very careful how he deals with the press. I think he needs some lectures from his predecessors. He should not allow the press boys and girls to dictate the pace. He should have stood his ground by clamping on Channels TV and its erring journalists. In fact, Yar'Adua should shut down all the media houses in the country. This is the only way he could win the war between him and the media, for appeasement has now become old-fashioned. 

Copyright 2008

mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 It seems that Yar'Adua's administration is playing upon the emotional intelligence of its people whom it had sworn to protect come rain or sunshine. In order to portray his administration as a r...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 24.09.2008 23:04