FG Steps Up Attack On Nigerian Journalists To Suppress The Truth As 2015 Elections Approaches

The history of news reporting and journalism
whether paper, electronic and even the modern
online is dated back to hundreds of years ago.
Newspaper came to the lime light during the first
European (world) war. Newspapers were used to
promote propaganda and call on people to join the
fight. In early 1940s when the second European
(world) war started, there was a proliferation of
media houses – radio, television and newspapers.
Notably, the British BBC international including BBC
Hausa was established during the European wars to
help instigate Hausa people to Join Britain in
defending it self against the Nazi's.
In So many developed and developing countries,
journalism (media) is the fourth arm of government.
This is because, they link the government and the
governed by reporting to them what is happening
and how the government is handling their resources,
security and even lives.
Unfortunately in Nigeria, private media and
journalism has been established for close to 100
years now. But unfortunately, due to many years of
military dictatorship, the private media houses were/
have been Harassed, some even closed, some
journalist killed etc, all with the motive to undermine
their performance and silence them. Nigeria is
among the worst counties of journalism in the world.
Many journalists are ill treated in the course of doing
their job. This is all due to corruption in the Nigerian
system. According to transparency international,
Nigeria is the 31 most corrupt country in the world.
Out of the over 1000 radio, television, theaters and
newspapers in Nigeria, about the total of 60 percent
of them belong to the government. This mostly radio
and television stations of the government, are meant
to enlighten the public, educate them, air their views
among others. Unfortunately, these state owned
media agencies have formed an alliance with the
ruling party – in case of democracy and civilian rule,
and the government when it is a military
dictatorship. They broadcasts nothing but what is in
the favor of the government. People are not allowed
to say their views. And when they say it in such
media's, they will do what they called " balancing" or
"filtering", they remove what they think the leader
will not want to hear, living only what is in favor of
the government. A typical example is Katsina state
television. Upon all the three senators, 20 federal
House member, General Buhari and other opposition
stalwarts in the state, the state television is not
airing their adverts and programs.
Even in the ruling PDP, a lot of those aspiring for
various seats in the state are not allowed to hold
their political gathering in the state, and the state
owned media house do not air their programs.
Abdullahi TATA is an example, his recent occasion in
katsina was mired with police intimidation which
resulted into burning down of the famous katsina
polo ground.
For state owned media houses to be respected in
Nigeria. There is the need for them to remain neutral
and free and opened to the people.
It is high time the FG stop these unwarranted attacks
on journalists doing their jobs and allow State-owned
media house to air their views without limitation or
harrassments.

Posted By David Aniemeka