Need for media policing

While not carrying out any empirical research, a casual peep into the ever-widening world of internet streaming of newspapers, especially in the Nigerian sense would reveal that except the stakeholders do something seriously and immediately, we may be on the verge of not only ruining the democratic ideals for which a lot of our colleagues […]

While not carrying out any empirical research, a casual peep into the ever-widening world of internet streaming of newspapers, especially in the Nigerian sense would reveal that except the stakeholders do something seriously and immediately, we may be on the verge of not only ruining the democratic ideals for which a lot of our colleagues gave their lives; but burning down our country. Never in the history of our dear nation is there a need to curtail the excesses of our readers as we have need now.

The traditional feedback which we have given our readers in the era of the extinction of snail mail is being abused. The consequences of the sheer braggadocio exhibited by the reader are capable of stoking up unparalleled ethnic and religious hatred that would make the genocide in Rwanda a mere child’s play. There is an urgent need to call a conference of stakeholders to determine whether, as is the case right now, the right of reply is a right to stoke tensions, propagate hatred and commit blue murder. As confused as the traditional description of a reporter is, there are distinctions between news reports and commentary or opinion; a distinction that the average reader may either not be aware of; or (as it seems to be the case now) cares little or nothing about.

The internet appears to have given us the will to totally bypass all the ethics that guide our profession – nakedness and nudity may not be as high as they are in the so-called western world with all its depravity and insolence; but then we are an evolving society. Naturally, the rule would be something close to the golden, for people not to say of others what they would not want to say of us. But a cursory glance at newspaper websites and the feedback to reports would show that this caution has been thrown to the winds.

In an era of political intolerance, where even so-called leaders are leading the quest to burn it down if they can’t have it; the media must escape this trait. Assaults and insults of political opponents are perhaps not unknown in politics, developed countries debate issues, but we debate personalities, regions and their perceived (usually misconceived) stereotypes. But the crudity with which it is expressed is not only shocking but explosively incisive. We must reject the quest to be unwittingly used to stoke up ethnic, religious and other parochial sentiments in such a way that they destroy the beauty of our diversity.

For those who have ambitions inimical to the survival of our nation, who do not care that the country burns, provided that cinder would guarantee them greater positions in whatever other contraption arises as a result, we must not be willing tools in their hands. We must not unwittingly allow them their morbid ambition. Examples from all parts of the globe show, that breaking apart as a consequence of stereotyping each other has not worked for any society. As John Donne would say, no man is an island and there would never come a time when any particular nation would be able to cater for itself using only the resources available within its domain. This goes to show that although the marriage contracted by Lord Lugard may be one of convenience, we must make sure that if there is need to seek a divorce, the house is not burnt down. Most Nigerians, methinks believe that what makes us unique is our diversity – which comes in different forms. Most of us can hardly stand the idiocy of people with whom we were born or grow and the tension within families prove that we all need each other.

As our country moves to another transition in governance, one can only hope that we would find those things for which our leaders and those seeking to lead us would be made accountable  things that all Nigerians need. Thing’s for which lack, we seem to have moved from our rockers; the basic essentials of life – water, food, security, roads, electricity. But above all, we must realise that poverty knows no ethnic group, does not distinguish between nationalities and is the only common denominator which unites the poor. Let us face such issues and ask questions or politik using these issues as the distinguishing factors between those aspiring to hold the reins of power.