The historical role of the press, for which they have been respected and honoured through the ages, includes the struggle against oppression, the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens, the holding to account of  leaders, the enthronement of justice, reconciliation and nation building, promoting a culture of constructive dialogue, setting and or influencing the election and agenda of  acknowledged progressives on individual track records of merit.

But the Nigerian press (mostly concentrated in the West) like everything Nigerian has mostly deviated from these lofty ideals and benchmarks. What represents the press today is a corrupt, tribal, biased, exclusionary and compromised amalgam of tribal and personal interests. During the campaign for the 2007 presidency, the  tribal nature of the Nigerian press  was at it’s very best as it sought to almost totally exclude candidates from the southeast from the process, while loudly hyping candidates who were not necessarily more qualified from elsewhere. It took the personal intervention of Governor Chimaraoke Nnamani of Enugu state before there was an effort to correct this  intentional anomaly influenced by crass tribalism and unnecessary rivalry in the South.

Before then, the likes of  the infamous Reuben Abati of Guardian newspapers, had mounted the rostrum arguing against Igbo presidency in  several of his articles. It did not matter to Reuben Abati, that there are many Igbo even in the present administration who had perfomed meritoriously and who could be considered on individual merit. As far as he was concerned, the persons tribe is more important than the potential good leadership that could come from such an acknowledged progressive or achiever. This is the shameful extent to which the Nigerian press has descended.

The press today led by divisive figureheads  like Reuben Abati who has largely abused his position as a chairman of the Guardian editorial board, by using his platform to preach hatred and ethnic divisions,  no longer protects the fundamental rights of citizens. Instead of promoting reconciliation and nation building, the press in Nigeria now promotes inter-ethnic divisions and hatred, and rather than setting the agenda for the election of progressives on individual track records, the press panders to tribal divisions as exemplified by many articles from the stable of Reuben Abati and others.

The recent barbaric murder of  Ms Oluwatoyin Olusesan, a school teacher by marauding Northern Islamic fanatics, who happen to be just 12-14 year old SS1 students on accusation of having desecrated the Koran in Gombe state is a grim indicator of how far the Nigerian press has failed. Religious riots has been a long standing uncivilised, and shameful spectre in our sorry nation. The un-abating  religious riots and killings in the North is in Justice Oyewole’s words in his judgement against reverend King “a throw-back to the dark ages and an assault to the gains attained by humanity in the areas of respect for human dignity, freedom and liberty”.

In spite of this obvious shameful acts of barbarism ever so frequent in the North, I am yet to see the Nigerian press hold any of the top leaders in the North to account. It is common knowledge that whenever there are riots in the North claiming hundreds of lives, notable Northern leaders  usually maintain a curious silence. Their silence in the face of evil indicates their tacit support for such barbaric acts in the 21st century.

 The onus should ordinarily lie with the press to expose such Northern leaders and put them to task, over their silence and inaction on continuing incidents of religious riots, but rather than do this, the tribally biased press, over the years has gone to sleep, probably because of a false misconception that only people from the East are killed in such riots. The gruesome killing of Ms Oluwatoyin Olusesan confirms a long standing truth, that all Southerners including Western Muslims and indeed even Northern Christians have severally been targets and victims of marauding barbaric Northern Islamic terrorists.

It is  ironical and so shameful, that an average Southerner would have more security of his life and property in Ghana, Togo, or even Senegal, than he would ever have or contemplate in Northern Nigeria, and yet we continue to claim to be citizens of the same nation. Truth is; there was never any Nigeria, there is now no Nigeria, and there would probably never be any Nigeria. What we inhabit is a “mere geographical expression” as rightly described by late chief Obafemi Awolowo. 

Instead of  hyping corrupt bankrupt candidates like Ibrahim Babangida and others who have  encouraged and supported Northern Muslim fanatics, the press could have done better by exposing their conspicuous silence in editorials and columns and engaging them in interviews on the problem of religious riots. The likes of Atiku Abubakar, Col. Umar who has a progressive bent,  Muhammadu Buhari, Musa Yar’Adua etc should be ideally involved in the debate to bring a final end to the shameful and barbaric spectre of religious violence.

It is the duty of the press to set the agenda, especially in this electioneering period. Presidential candidates should be specifically asked what they plan to do to bring an end to such episodes of bloodletting. Those hypocritical Northern leaders who shout “one Nigeria” the loudest, should be exposed and made to account for their hypocrisy and silence in the face of wanton bloodletting.  Religious riots have continued unabated largely because the killers  don’t get punished, and the  top Northern leaders have remained silent, signifying a tacit support. Once the leaders are forced by the press to condemn such acts, and be openly involved in initiatives to put  an end to such riots, there will automatically be a massive reduction of such riots which more than anything else threatens Nigerian unity.

The press has so far failed Nigerians  because of the corruption, tribalism, and narrow sectional interests within it‘s confines. It is often said that “a people deserve the kind of leaders they get”. Perhaps if the press had lived up to it’s responsibility of electing and shaping the agenda of potential leaders, we would probably have had more progressive candidates irrespective of their tribe  vying for the presidency in the respective political parties.

Maybe today we  would have had known achievers and progressives like Dr Dora Akunyili, Prof. Charles Soludo, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Donald Duke, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Gani Fawhehinmi, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Adamu Muazu, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala etc vying for the presidency in leading political parties, giving Nigerians a good choice and opportunity of electing a true progressive. Because  the press has failed in this regard Nigerians are confronted with limited choices and condemned to electing the same bunch of failed, unprogressive status quo politicians who created the environment of impunity in which the killers of Ms Oluwatoyin Olusesan thrive.

Moving on, it is not too late for the Nigerian press to retrace it’s step, and  wean  itself of the vices of tribalism, and corruption to concentrate on the lofty ideals for which journalism has long been a respected and revered profession. They must protect the fundamental rights of citizens, hold the leaders (particularly Northern leaders) to account especially in regards to continuing religious riots that has recently claimed the life of another innocent victim and compatriot Ms Oluwatoyin Olusesan.They must begin the process of reconciliation and nation building, if there can be any hope that our deeply fractured nation can survive. Above all they must engage in the agenda and election of meriting progressives irrespective of tribe, in order to ensure  that in the near future, the interests of the larger suffering Nigerian public can be truly served.   

Comrade Lawrence Chinedu Nwobu

Email:Lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 The historical role of the press, for which they have been respected and honoured through the age...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 27.03.2007 14:37

burning pot  JJC

# 2 Sane thinking persons have deounced although anothere problem we have is that we never almost always have the factual details, everyone tilts to his/her ethno-religious stsnding... Which way Nigeria...when will all this stop...? Posted by burning pot| 27.03.2007 14:51

reads  JJC

# 3 Not all og us support rubbish...dont blame all for the ignorance of others The Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful 27th March, 2007 MPAC Denounce Barbaric Murder in Gombe State (Lagos State) The Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, denounce the barbaric and gruesome murder of a female teacher by irate Muslim pupils on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at a secondary school in Gandu, Gombe state. The Vice Principal of the school, Hajiya Hadiza Gombe, in media reports was quoted to have said the teacher, who was employed on contract was assigned to invigilate the SS1 pupils who were writing their Islamic Religious Knowledge exams. She added that the teacher suspected that a foul play was about to take place when one of the students wanted to come in with his books to the exam hall. Hajiya Gombe said when the teacher collected the books and threw them outside, unknown to her, there was a copy of the Holy Qur’an among the books. The students were reported to have attacked the teacher outside the school compound after the exam and killed her. The school principal, Mr. Mohammed Sadiq, who tried to protect the teacher in his office was also terribly beaten and injured while they set the teacher's car, three classes, the school's clinic, administrative block and library on fire. What adds to the outrage was that those misguided youths violated the sanctity of human life that God made sacred in their twisted ideas that they were 'defending' the Holy Qur’an. Rather, their actions endanger and offend the basic principles of Islam, which are mercy, justice, freedom, forgiveness and human dignity. The Qur'an, the most fundamental scripture of Islam which these vicious youths claim to be defending, teaches sanctity of life, not violence. It enjoins peace, justice, and compassion as basic tenets for all of humankind and condemns violence and aggression in all forms. Even if a genuine crime was committed, 'vigilante-type justice' is not acceptable form of justice in Islam. Instead of offering to kill for the Qur’an, would it not have been better for the youth to declare that they would live by following these Qur’anic principles? This is what Islam teaches. This ugly incident is another sad example that what Islam teaches and what some Muslims do are, sadly, often very different. The MPAC calls on the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Nigerian Muslim faith leaders to unequivocally condemn this attack, the extremist ideologies and ideas of fanaticism behind such misguided actions. As Muslims should we not be demanding that fellow Muslims maintain exemplary standards regarding the treatment of others? Too frequently we excuse gross abuses by fellow Muslims or remain silent, while condemning non-Muslims. This behaviour merely fuels the polarization of communities and strengthens wrong and dangerous perception amongst non-Muslims that Islam is hate-filled. The way to protect these young Muslims from adopting violent views of hate preachers who masquerade as scholars is to incorporate and teach the ideology of love, plurality, mutual respect and justice as integral part of the curricula of our educational institutions; to bring youth into more positive, active engagement with society and to listen to them so we reduce the likelihood of social exclusion and alienation. Allah (SWT) says in Surah 16; 90 of the glorious Qur'an: "Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." Then we should have no difficulty in being examples for others to follow as it was demonstrated in the actions of the school principal, Mr. Mohammed Sadiq, who risked his own life to try to protect the teacher’s. This reprehensible attack, like many others, definitely crossed a threshold in the insanity that pervades daily life in Nigeria . The voice of Nigerian Muslim youth is essential at this tenuous time, and we will rise to the occasion of making our Islamic values heard by condemning it in words and in deeds. As the Qur’an clearly further states, "If anyone slays a human being... it shall be as though he had slain all mankind" (Surah 5:32 ). It is in the light of these magnificent words that we call on Muslim youth to reject extremist ideologies and seek to cultivate a culture of love, tolerance and coexistence for the advancement of all people as taught by Islam. This terrible crime illustrates once again the depth of misunderstanding and confusion that has darkened those who claim to belong to Islam. Regardless of the history of deep sectarian strife in certain places or cultures, there is no escaping the fact that the mentality that can lead to the level of fanaticism and violence demonstrated by the irate youths is taught, not inherent to Islam. Beyond mere condemnation, MPAC is urgently calling on all conscious and educated Muslims to expose the root of the malignant ideas that would lead our youths to undertake such terrible acts and inflict such level of senseless violence. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught that whoever is silent regarding the truth is equal to a devil. We call on the government to confront the challenge of merciless killers in our midst, invest heavily in developing the youth and rescue them from an existence where they see violence as a way of life. Budgets that run into billions of naira are voted for national orientation and integration every year. We wonder what purpose this serves when most Nigerians do not see a fellow man (who is not of same tribe and faith) as a brother. The political class particularly Gombe State in this case should rise up to this challenge by taming the demons in their midst, whose actions led to this tragic incident. Government both at the State and Local level should sensitive its subjects to the grave danger of wanton bloodletting. The latest incident in Gombe State and others like it provide convincing case studies to bear this assertion out. We are urging the Police to investigate the case thoroughly, find the perpetrators and make them face the full wrath of the law so that such appalling incidents do not recur. This is vital also to prevent community relations deteriorating further. The Nigerian government- Federal and State- must provide adequate protection to all its citizens wherever they choose to reside in the country. This is their unalienable constitutional right and there can be no double standard in protecting innocent civilian life. Much of the violence and extremism that currently plagues some parts of our country and increasingly threatens other parts has been incubated in the societal dysfunction that ensues in the aftermath of the lawlessness of our unsettled past. All people, irrespective of tribe and faith should feel safe and secure in whatever part of the country they live. Violent attacks on civilians while exploiting religious or cultural sentiments is an on-going phenomenon born out of the culture of hatred that is fomented among hard-line adherents of the two major religions in Nigeria and the political elite has abysmally and repeatedly failed to institute peaceful co-existence. Notwithstanding the seriousness of this heinous crime, the MPAC reaffirms that the fair and firm application of the rule of law is the surest guarantee to defeat the ills of extremism and bigotry in our society. The government of Nigeria must identify and have the courage to prosecute to the full extent of the law these murderers. Anything short of this will sow another seed of discord and mistrust in the heart of the populace. We trust that community and political leaders, the media and individuals would rise to the occasion and not exploit this terrible homicide for narrow personal, sectarian and political gains. Yes, we Muslims, like the adherents of other faiths have a problem with violent extremists. That being the case, we can use any assistance we can get in our effort to transcend the current situation. Perhaps the most beneficial thing the Christian leadership in particular can offer is discouraging and confronting hate-filled antagonists, bigots with right wing agenda and violent extremists in their own ranks. That being the case, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected, Muslims and non Muslims. Our special prayers and thoughts are with the family of the murdered victim of this barbaric and gruesome attack. We pray to Almighty Allah to have mercy on the soul of Ms Oluwatoyin Olusesan and give her family, friends and colleagues the solitude to bear the loss of their loved one. -End- Contact: Disu Kamor Director of Media & Communications Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC e-mail: media@mpacng. org website: www.mpac-ng. org Posted by reads| 27.03.2007 15:07

owiz22  JJC

# 4 This is truthfully a very sad aspect of Nigeria. I understand to an extent the anger registered in the article but would have to fall short of supporting the writers strong pessimism for the future of Nigeria. It is annoying that some paticular group of people always feel that they maintain a monopoly of violence in the country, but that is not enough to declear the republic to wihich you belong non-exsistent.It is neccessarry for all Nigerians to remain very patriotic to the nation... We cannot give up on this great country . I will have to say : THERE WAS A NIGERIA, THERE STILL IS A NIGERIA, AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NIGERIA ... the quicker we realise that the better for us Posted by owiz22| 27.03.2007 15:20

akuluouno  Villager

# 5 MPAC is not SCIA. I do not have problems with Yoruba moslems anyway. SCIA is the correct body to condemn this dastardly act immedaitely and without reservations if they are very sincere and patriotic. OWIZ22, Don't be too sure. What of USSR, Somalia, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia and Yugoslavia to name but a few. Czech was about 78 years before it died, USSR and Yugolsavia and Ethiopia have existed since the time of Christ (OLPS) and had great men and sound attributes and qualities of a nation than Nigeria, yet they were never the same yesterday, today and forever. :lol: :lol: :lol: . Only Christ (OLPS) takes that title. However I admire you neopatriotism and would recommend it to my kids when I am a bit tipsy. :p :p and I do that do that a lot. :mad: :mad: :mad: Posted by akuluouno| 27.03.2007 15:53

owiz22  JJC

# 6 =akuluouno;164047>MPAC is not SCIA. I do not have problems with Yoruba moslems anyway. SCIA is the correct body to condemn this dastardly act immedaitely and without reservations if they are very sincere and patriotic. OWIZ22, Don't be too sure. What of USSR, Somalia, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia and Yugoslavia to name but a few. Czech was about 78 years before it died, USSR and Yugolsavia and Ethiopia have existed since the time of Christ (OLPS) and had great men and sound attributes and qualities of a nation than Nigeria, yet they were never the same yesterday, today and forever. :lol: :lol: :lol: . Only Christ (OLPS) takes that title. However I admire you neopatriotism and would recommend it to my kids when I am a bit tipsy. :p :p and I do that do that a lot. :mad: :mad: :mad: I seriously doubt that the future of nigeria can be compared to that of failed states such as Yugoslavia, Somalia, or the soviet union .... And i do not look at the case of Ethiopia as a failed state. Well for the soviet union they where involved in a prolonged cold war that put extreme strain on the resources of the country and this eventually led to its colapse although it is a little more coplicated than that ... and for states like Yugoslavia we see what the evil and greedy aspiretions of a dictator can cause .. For Somalia, i honestly believe that it is poverty and lack of resources that has thrown that country into complete caous .... The question is, can the preasent chracteristics that are shown in Nigeria today be compared to that of a failed state ?? .... The answer is maybe , but are all these things new to us ?? the answer is no, so did we brake up before ??? i dont think so.... If we could stand the civil war,June 12th , and tyrany of Abacha, Babangida and Obasanjo, we can probably survive anything .. so what we need to is to look forward and work towards a man of integrity who will pull us out of the ashes .... and one day it will come to pass ... Posted by owiz22| 27.03.2007 19:28

akuluouno  Villager

# 7 Owiz22, I do share your optimism and would love a great and wonderful Nigeria but from the way we are going and even our great heroes like Enahoro have also warned, we might be heading toward the same fate as these countries I have earlier identified. All it takes is a spark, sustained with suicidal passion by a highly organised group and it will be nunc dimitis. This was what led the Eritreans out of Ethiopia, Czech and Slovak Republics out of Czechoslovakia, Somaliland out of Somalia, several states out of USSR, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and by the Grace of God Kosovo from Yugoslavia :biggrin: :biggrin: These beautiful young states have been doing very well to the admiration of Nigerians and very soon great men will arise from HausaFulaniland, Igboland, YorubaLand, Ijawland, Ibibioland, Kanuriland, Efikland, Ibibioland, Ebiraland, Tivland, Idomaland, Zuruland, Opoboland, Okirikaland, Zango-Katafland, Angasland, Biromland etc etc and sit together as equals like the Europeans did at the Berlin conference and build strong nations out of the Nigerian mix so that we shall all enjoy equality, Liberty and fraternity. We can even form a commonwealth of Nigerian states thereafter and let loose the hitherto inhibited creative capacity in us to build a nation that would be the envy of the world. :D :D :D Owiz22 might even be the Minister of Works or Information in say the Republic of Ijawland and you cannot afford to mislead your people when you talk or award contracts. Imagine an international football match between Yorubaland and Igboland. It would be a sell out interantionally. Each of these nations would defeat any European nation today singlehandedly. :biggrin: This is just one of the million examples of what these nations can do and the Europeans know it very well so they will never allow you to be free from Nigeria which ab initio is their own construct and not mine or yours. Posted by akuluouno| 28.03.2007 06:56

Tunde meee  Villager

# 8 Hi Akukuluono, What gave you the impression that MPAC comprises of only Yorubas? How come you think the SCIA speaks for all Muslims? SCIA comprises of geriatocrats who hardly knows what is going on around them due to their old age. This body, until recently, is headed by usually very old man (Sultan of Sokoto) with their usually obvoius political leanings. They only make amenable Yoruba man their secretary. Hoepfully all these will change with the foray of the current Sultan into radicalism as exemplified by his statement against disqualification of candidates for the forthcoming elections. LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. The only true home to all Nigerians. Posted by Tunde meee| 28.03.2007 07:31

Tunde meee  Villager

# 9 This is an undeserved attack on Mr. Abati and reading it from dear Sir to yours faithfully, I hardly find any substance upon which you hanged this innocent man. What I observed is your tribal frustration which you tend to take out on other people instead of facing the real problem. I know for cetain that facts abound every where that whatever is presently happening to Ibos in present day Nigeria have got all their root in another Ibo man. Shall we ask how many times the road from Ama nwaozuzu through uzoagba to amakohia was awarded to Iwuayanwun to no avail. The same can be said of the Onitsha-Owerri road. Uptill date, I have not read any article condemning such a blantant disregard for ones own peolple. Andy Uba was in the presidency only to collude with the president to syphon our money to America. Of what use has the senate presidency zoned to Ibo land since 1999 been to the Ibos. How United are the Ibos in fighting for what truly they are entitled to? Do you truly have leaders in Ibo land who cares for the masses or those who only brags around with a bag load of thieftaincy, oh sorry, chieftaincy titles all over the place. What has Reuben Abati got to do with all these. Whose interest does the Champion Newspaper serves since its debut in the 80's. These are questions to ask and not an undeserved attack on Reuben who I make bold to say, you may not like his face or his boldness, remains one of the best in our country. Give me Reuben, Kola Animashaun and uncle Debo any Sunday. May their ink never dry. Posted by Tunde meee| 28.03.2007 08:17

Dr. S Adetunji  Villager

# 10 =Tunde meee;164159>This is an undeserved attack on Mr. Abati and reading it from dear Sir to yours faithfully, I hardly find any substance upon which you hanged this innocent man. What I observed is your tribal frustration which you tend to take out on other people instead of facing the real problem. I know for cetain that facts abound every where that whatever is presently happening to Ibos in present day Nigeria have got all their root in another Ibo man. Shall we ask how many times the road from Ama nwaozuzu through uzoagba to amakohia was awarded to Iwuayanwun to no avail. The same can be said of the Onitsha-Owerri road. Uptill date, I have not read any article condemning such a blantant disregard for ones own peolple. Andy Uba was in the presidency only to collude with the president to syphon our money to America. Of what use has the senate presidency zoned to Ibo land since 1999 been to the Ibos. How United are the Ibos in fighting for what truly they are entitled to? Do you truly have leaders in Ibo land who cares for the masses or those who only brags around with a bag load of thieftaincy, oh sorry, chieftaincy titles all over the place. What has Reuben Abati got to do with all these. Whose interest does the Champion Newspaper serves since its debut in the 80's. These are questions to ask and not an undeserved attack on Reuben who I make bold to say, you may not like his face or his boldness, remains one of the best in our country. Give me Reuben, Kola Animashaun and uncle Debo any Sunday. May their ink never dry. And I ask again, who are our own leaders in Yorubland, who have made Oduduwaland flow with milk and honey; and have all the streets from Eko to Ofa to Iseyin paved with gold? Talking about a mad man calling a crazy man mad. Nigerians are disappointingly disappointing. The Igbo and the Yoruba and all others are neck-deep in this rot together. Period Posted by Dr. S Adetunji| 28.03.2007 09:42

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