On World Press Freedom Day, Nigerians call for Justice and Security

On World Press Freedom Day, Nigerians call for Justice and Security

By Yemi Olakitan

         As the world celebrates, May 3^rd World Press Freedom Day, eminent Nigerians reiterated the need for justice and security among other pressing issues that needed to be addressed for press freedom to thrive in Nigeria.

At a lecture organized by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, various Media scholars called for the need to ensure that the Nigerian journalist practice in atmosphere that is free from intimidation, harassment and threat to his life and property. 

       Keynote speaker, Fassy Yusuf who spoke on the topic: Beyond Nascent Democracy: The Role of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, tasks the Nigerian press to rise to their responsibilities and do more of investigative journalism.

‘‘It is important for the press to hold the government accountable. The media must not allow itself to fall into the abyss. Qualitative journalism cannot thrive if the practitioners are under the threat of harassment and bombings.’’ He said.

          Speaking further, he said that the role of the media as the watchdogs of democracy and agenda setters is very important to national development and their security cannot be jeopardized. Yusuf further called for truth and professionalism in order to move the nation forward.

  ‘‘Journalists go to interview government officials and they go asking questions irrelevant questions as if they are there to show their teeth.  Journalists must ask probing questions.

 Media practitioners must imbibe the ethics of discipline, integrity, dignity of labour and social justice.’’ He said.

              According to him, the media must be seen as agents of advocacy, sensitization and anti corruption. They must also be agents of development and nation building.  They must have a clement environment within which to operate because a hazardous and indeed perilous environment can neither guarantee productivity nor press freedom.

                Chairman of the event, the Head of the Mass Communication Department, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye said that a free press is possible in a democracy if the government makes it possible. He called on the Federal Government to make the free press part of his transformation agenda. Speaking further, he said,

    ‘‘Government should discourage the proliferation of mass communication schools without the required libraries, laboratories and equipment’s necessary for the highest standards of journalism training and education. The Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan must fish out those who have sworn to erase the media through bombs and the barrels. ‘’

      Human Rights activist and Lawyer Bamidele Atturru who was a member of the panel that spoke on the topic: Beyond Nascent Democracy the Role of the Nigerian press, said,  ‘‘since 1999, Nigerians have named our democracy nascent.’’ He wondered how long the democracy would remain nascent.  He opined that Nigerian journalists have been investigative. He asked what the larger society of Nigerians does with the overflow of information that the Nigerian journalists daily gives out?  He called on all Nigerians to justice.   According to him, the nation seems to be practicing contractocrary, which he defined as the government of the contractors by the contractors and for the contractors. He Nigerians must insist on the trial and prosecution of corrupt public officials.

 Another Panelist, Dr. Ndubusi Ugbede submitted that the press is falling victims of the decadence of the society. ‘‘Many journalists now receive their remuneration from corrupt politicians. He opined that journalists must shun corruption in order to fulfill their professional duties. ‘’