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Saturday last week was observed as the world freedom of the
press day. It was a day set aside by the United Nations to
call attention to the daily perils starring the journalist
in the cause of his carry out his duties. The World freedom
of the press day was a day that the humiliations, the
intimidations and brutal murder of journalist in the pursuit
of gathering and disseminating information readily come to
the fore.
In Nigeria, the media has played the most vital roles, at
the most critical epochs of our nation's history. During
colonialism, the nationalist leaders saw the use of the
press as the most potent means of confronting the colonial
rulers. They made use of the media in mobilizing our people
to stand up to the colonialist. The number of media houses
and their contributions to the struggle made virtually all
the known nationalists, first pressmen, before becoming
politicians.
The Nigerian media has also played very important part in
the dislodgement of the military from governance. The
Nigerian journalist even paid the supreme sacrifice and
suffered all manner of humiliations and deprivations in the
cause of fighting for the enthronement of the democracy we
are today enjoying. It is instructive that the beneficiaries
of these sacrifices are those who have found themselves in
corridors of power today. Most of these beneficiaries,
unfortunately see the press as enemies, and not partners in
nation building.
The recent set back suffered by the Freedom of Information
bill currently in the National Assembly calls for serious
concern to all lovers of democracy. Democracy as a system of
government can only blossom when the people are adequately
informed and mobilized. We can only deepen our democratic
institution, including the legislature, though a vibrant
press, professionally doing their bit in information
dissemination. Our lawmakers should understand that the
little progress they themselves have made as a house can
easily be traceable to the cooperation of the media.
The press thrive on the amount of information is can gather
and distribute. When such information are not forth coming
as, is easily the case in Nigeria, the people feast on
rumours, conjectures and speculations since the government
is a creation of the peoples power, it then means that no
government or its official has a right to deny the people
the right to know what they are doing.
We don't want to believe that the set back was as a result
of the fear by the House members of the power of the press
to bring the wrong doing of some members to the attention of
the Nigerian people. We do not want to believe that the
suspension of debates on the bill is to protect the corrupt
from the public glare.
We urge the honourable members of the House of
Representatives to urgently go back to that bill and pass it
as a prelude to enhancing our democracy. A free press is a
significant factor in the success of any democracy. The
Nigerian people are waiting and watching. However whether
the bill is passed or not, the Nigeria press has come a long
way and no matter the hiccups, no matter the obstacle, it
would continue to fearlessly thrive.
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