With many impressions, and valuable service of journalism, it calls for caution. More importantly, with the freedom of speech and availability of internet, expressions for general use might demand ratified implementation before publishing or rather, sometimes outburst.
The recent call for this motion, on my part, is the way I have seen journalism as a means of public tool especially in the awareness of one's environment. Pertinent of all, troublesome as it may sound is the political use of journalism that has unjustified the verifiable truth, and left many to apathy and undue subjection, which in many cases lead to crisis.
A respectable friend, once told me of SaharaReporters, a 'privately-owned' online journalism for Federal Republic of Nigeria. As due, I went on the website and read many posts and articles on it. Some are quite interesting, many critical, and some are generated from emotional feelings than the realness of objectivity.
I was fortunate to watch the interview by the same online news, granted to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe. To me, even though the minister might have not performed as expected, the interview was a chaos, most especially on the part of interviewer. A sensible man would not expect the sort of treatment that was melted out to him in any case of a dignified official to occur in a matured economy or country. To add pain to injury, the interview took place out of the country, in United State of America. I would have expected that even if the man would not be so respected despite his laudable experience, the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs as equal to the Secretary of States must have the dignity and integrity protected. There should be courtesy and diplomacy in relaying important questions or point, when needed. Yet, I do not advocate for injustice and selfish attitude on the part of unjust official, which leaves the people of the country to labour in vain or less than they deserve, especially from the government.
The recent outburst, concerning the N3 billion bribe relating to the Ekiti State Tribunal is a major alarm that I believe deserves international body's awareness; otherwise, it should be settled, and online journalism curtailed or rightly monitored without the hindrance of the freedom that was long fought for, and attained. The PDP has dwelt more on the matter than the shameless verdict, as it was not celebrated; and from the verdict, the signs are written all over the faces of the right judgment. I am afraid, if it is true the adage, that justice and truth do not often lie together. I live to differ! More concerning is the fact that AC did not take responsibility but to send the people who may care to the online news blog, as they are not aware of the information. Something might be shady somewhere.
Outside Nigeria, many other countries have labeled journalism as a tool for trade of words especially in the political and less the business cycle. I believe if the freedom of speech is more predominant, and an effective way to eradicate injustice, and promote virtue in daily living, a controlled journalism by worthiness might be an effecting tool that points to a good path for growth and development; and guarantee future of good life, and value of the profession to this generation and upcoming ones.
Gabriel Omololu Omowaye.
The recent
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