On World Press Freedom Day, Nigerians call for Justice
and Security
By Yemi Olakitan
As the world celebrates, May 3rd
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. ‘’
