The media and national security
Since early 1920s through to early 1940s, the media in Nigeria acquired the status of being a mouthpiece of the anti-colonial struggle and also a forefront in the struggle for enthronement of democracy and the return to civil rule in the 1980s and 1990s. That is why it becomes extremely difficult if not impossible for […]
Since early 1920s through to early 1940s, the media in Nigeria acquired the status of being a mouthpiece of the anti-colonial struggle and also a forefront in the struggle for enthronement of democracy and the return to civil rule in the 1980s and 1990s. That is why it becomes extremely difficult if not impossible for anyone to discuss Nigeria’s transformation and ignore the role the media played in the sustenance of the nation as an indivisible entity.
Despite these outstanding credentials, the media again has found itself in a dilemma at this difficult moment of our nation’s history. In the past, it has performed beyond expectation in its role of an arbiter of the various ethnic nationalities that made up the nation.
Yet, no time has the nation faced security challenges, since independence, which threatened its very existence like this present time. Students of history might sight instances – the January 1966 coup, the Nigeria’s civil war, the crises after the assassination of Gen. Murtala Muhammed, the second republic political crises that led to the 1983 military coup, the SAP saga, the Gideon Okah coup, the annulment of the June 12 elections and what followed, the OPC annihilation of Northerners in Shagamu and some part of the South-West, the Shari’ah imbroglio, Niger-Delta, and the indigene/ settler crises in Jos. But in all these, the role played by the media was more of igniting the crises rather than agents of peace and harmonious relationship among the various groups. In fact, the media by commission or omission through their reports, analysis and commentaries is more of fuelling than dousing it.
The media has a huge impact on society and also in forming public opinion. Depending on the objective, they have a profound influence on what people think, do or how they relate with other members of the society. A cursory look at reports, analysis, comments and editorial of newspapers, right from colonial to post-colonial period up to this present dispensation have not changed.
What characterize most of our newspapers today are bias, lack of objectivity, outright lies and in some instances fabrication of stories all in an effort to achieve self-serving interest. Instances abound where media organisations deliberately ignore stories which they feel are not favourable to them, their ethnic and religious affiliation. While on the other hand ‘over report’ a story if they feel it can cause hatred to other ethnic or religious groups. A case in point is the post-elections violence in Northern Nigeria. We have seen how a section of the press completely ignored the massacre of more than 500 souls in cold blood but ‘over reported’ the killing of 10 NYSC members, as if the 10 souls are more human than those murdered 500. For how long can we continue practicing dubious journalism with personalised and biased reports and analysis aimed at dividing rather than uniting our conflicting interest? How long can we continue this journalism of stereotyping of other ethnic groups, making them easy target for annihilation? Do we have to defame or assassinate people’s character before we are considered journalists to reckon with?
These are all negative precedence our profession is subjected to by professional hirelings, ethnic and religious bigots claiming to be nationalists.
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria