by Charles Ajunwa
for THISDAY
November 6, 2008
One of the instruments used by the pre-independence Nigerian nationalists to fight against the all powerful and mighty British colonial rule was the media. The constant dissemination of information from the media especially the print exposed the evils of colonialism such as the socio-cultural, political, and economic exploitations of the Nigerian peoples. But this ugly chapter in the Nigerian political development was brought to an end on October1,1960 when the country gained her political independence. Consequently, when in 1963 Nigeria became a Republic, she ceased to either pay royalties or take instructions from her Royal Majesty, the Queen of England, who then was the head of the British Empire.
Since the post-independence Nigeria, the media has continued the struggle against the vestiges of bad leadership in the country. And apart from contributing in no small measure to the eradication of military rule from Nigeria’s body politics, the media appear to be very much in the vanguard of promoting good governance and rule of law. Even in the process of these struggles, many journalists have either lost their properties or paid the supreme price in their quest to defend the nation’s democratization process. As the watchdog of the society, the media in spite of the challenges has continued to see to the wellness of Nigeria.
The Media Ethics Organization, a Lagos-based non-governmental organization, last week brought together media practitioners and other segments of the society to its inaugural lecture entitled ‘Media and The Challenges of Statehood’, which took place at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja. All the participants charged the media to uphold ethical practices with a view of promoting those ideals like honesty, justice and harmony needed for the progress and development of the country.
The Executive Director of the organization, Mrs. Funke Fadugba, in her welcome address, said the media as the bastion of the nation’s democracy through disloyalty to the ethics of the profession had compromised the very essence of what they have been fighting for since pre- and post-independence Nigeria.
The theme of the inaugural lecture, according to her, was to show how religious application of the ethics of journalism could further assist the 48-year-old Nigerian nation to achieve statehood.
‘Just like doctors are expected to be loyal to a portion of their ethics which forbids them from carrying out operations on a relation, we need to uphold ethics even when handling issues involving a client, political associates, a mentor, friend or godfather.
Loyalty to the ethics of a profession is highly valued character trait desired between practitioners and their professions, journalism inclusive. It is when we, as media professionals, display such transparent loyalty to the ethics that we can galvanize all players in all other sectors particularly the political class to display such acts befitting of citizens of a nation that has attained statehood. That is a state of maturity in handling issues including legislation such as the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill without the mutual suspicion,’ Fadugba noted.
The NGO, according to her, among other things would be at the forefront of promoting ethical practice through the organization of workshops, seminars, symposia and the giving of awards to practitioners who excel.
Having set the tone for the lecture, the guest speaker who is also the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), further said the media is a critical and vital factor in the drive towards the actualization of the Nigerian nation.
To achieve the desired Nigerian nation, Akeredolu implored the media to refrain from getting involved in partisan politics, saying such development in the past made some sections of the media to champion sectional interests and agenda to the detriment of the conscious efforts and attempts at uniting the country.
The media, according to him, is the most powerful instrument in the country’s march to nationhood, adding that the media has a critical and fundamental role to play in the drive towards the realization of the Nigerian nation.
‘The media has the power to stimulate public debate. It has the means and ability to shape and sway public opinion on critical issues. Government thinking, decisions and direction can be greatly influenced by the media. Its potential and strength are enormous and unimaginable.
With a strong moral foundation, erected on strict commitment and observation of its professional ethics, the media stands a good chance of not failing. If the media is lacking in moral and ethical standards, it has no business trying to address or correct the ills of the society,’ Akeredolu said.
To maintain credibility and for its views and decisions to be accorded respect and seriousness, the NBA President said the media must not engage itself in acts and conduct that erode and undermine its ethics.
‘Like Ceasar’s wife, the media must not only live above board, it must be seen to be living above board in the discharge of its responsibilities and roles. Although the media is part of our society, it ought to live above our society so that it would be able to influence and guide the society to achieve a higher standard of public, and even private morality.
The media must tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, it must not hide or suppress anything except that which is against the interest of Nigeria and her march to nationhood. It is not in the interest of credibility of the media to pander to the whims, caprices, prejudices, likes and wishes of its owner or publisher. Is it not against the ethics of media practice to suppress news of public interest, just because somebody’s ox would be gored?'
Akeredolu, who said he subscribed to surveillance, interpretation, socialization, persuasion and agenda setting as role of the media, enjoined media practitioners to ensure at all times that they inform the public correctly without biases.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who was represented by NBA’s Assistant Secretary, Mr. Francis Ekwere, said the problems in Nigeria are caused by the leadership.
‘I think, most respectively, that Nigeria has failed over the years to produce a leadership that could inspire us to achieve the status of a nation. Nigerian leadership over the years has been irresponsible to the yearnings of her citizenry. No leader under any government or regime has been able to command and sustain the confidence, followership, trust and complete loyalty of the people. Legitimacy and accountability in leadership have been lacking. Except the late Murtala Mohammed, other leaders have been less inspiring and exemplary. It is doubtful if others have or had commanded the respect of majority of the citizenry. Witness the collapse of social infrastructure, security and the poverty pervading in the country.
Considering the roles/functions of the media in the society as indicated above, its strengths, capabilities and potentials, the media is better placed than any other institution to assist us, the Nigerian people, to produce a leadership at all levels and sectors of the Nigerian state that would galvanize the entire citizenry or Nigerian state into a nation to enable Nigeria achieve her potentials and take her rightful place in the comity of nations. That is the burden and challenge the media must accept in view of her power and place in the society,’ Akeredolu declared.
Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Lade Bonuola, a veteran journalist, said ethics demand that journalists should at all times stand tall in their chosen profession, saying ethics engender harmony.
According to Bonuola, journalists, instead of getting involved in the campaign of calumny, should serve the public interest by always upholding the truth. ‘They should refuse any reward for publishing views and comments. Life is governed by lawfulness. There are consequences in whatever we do,’ he said.
Also, the Chairman of the NGO, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Board said there are a lot of spiritual challenges in Nigerian journalism. He said he was happy to see journalists owning their own houses in the cities and becoming landlords and landladies instead of ordinary tenants. According to him, such development would make people not to see journalists as hungry people who could easily compromise.
Runsewe, who cited the experience he had when he first visited Germany, said immediately he arrived at the airport and explained to the immigration officers that he was a journalist and the officers treated him as king without subjecting him to all the rigorous search carried out on passengers especially blacks.
‘In terms of integrity and honour this is our morning. I remain very grateful to journalism because it made me what I am today. We must defend the ethics of the profession because defending the profession will help this country.
Journalists fought for Nigeria’s democracy. We need to protect journalism and there must be trust in all that we do. We must have legal backing to do the job and we need to be part of this story,’ he said.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Mr. Femi Adesina and Ambassador Segun Olusola, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene described journalism as a great profession that should not be put to shame but that which its ethics must be jealously guarded by practitioners.
Source: THISDAY Online
