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A Reply to Oyeyemi's "Ethnic Journalism et al."
by
Mr.Oyeyemi, I read your article with utmost interest. In the beginning, you were making a point, but as you progressed
you suddenly changed course and ended up as being a part of what you were trying to criticize. Knowingly or unknowingly
to you, your article ended up containing the same tribal sentiments that you claimed to be against.
It is very unfortunate that journalism which is supposed to be used to work for the progress of mankind has been
abused and hijacked by some mischievous elements to pursue tribal agendas in Nigeria.
Inasmuch as that it is no longer a secret that many Nigerian writers base their judgment on tribal basis, it is
very evident that majority of them are from the Southwestern part of Nigeria. My brother, it is very mischievous
of you to accuse the North or Southeast of ethnic journalism when it is undisputable that both ethnic politics
and journalism originated from the Southwest. Many of the Southwest writers have since the interception of this
Fourth republic, abused the use of the media in the quest of tribal agendas to the detriment of the entire country.
The way that the media was used to abuse and run down politicians and leaders of other ethnic entities is very
pathetic. They pretend never to see anything good in other people. I thought that you could have used your article
to caution and advice these writers to desist from this act, but instead you are blaming the North and Southeast.
I suspect that most of these writers are indirectly influenced by an aspect of the political life of the Great
Awo.
Throughout his life the man had from his southwest enclave declared every election he lost as fraudulent, the winner
of which must be opposed, subverted and toppled. This is born out of his desire to rule Nigeria at all cost and
the egocentric misconception that he alone could give Nigeria the best leadership. How best can we describe a man
who refused to acknowledge the legality of the Balewa democratic government, but finally ended up serving under
n illegal military government of Gowon, which came to power through a bloody and chaotic means, and subsequently
ended up as one of the worst governments in Nigerian history? The man seemed to have preferred a military government
to a democratically elected government. We all know that it is this government that initiated Nigeria into the
era of national treasury looting that became the epitome of subsequent governments. The reason why this great man
chooses to descend so low to wine and dine with this "Khaki boys" is best known to him.
The only amazing thing is that these ethnic writers may not see any thing wrong in this act. To them, it is normal.
They emphasize that he served under Gowon to sustain the unity of Nigeria, but he refused to co-operate with Balewa
and Shagari in the "co-operate existence of Nigeria, the only reason being that they beat him in the polls
and because he does not accept defeat. I wonder what could have happened if Awo happened to come from another ethnic
nationality, these tribal writers could have used the media to tear him to pieces.
ETHNIC JOURNALISM AND IMPEACHMENT
Once more the recent impeachment saga of Obasanjo has really exposed the weakness of our writers. We have watched,
read and viewed opinions of writers who are either supporting his impeachment or are against his impeachment. There
are those who are supporting his impeachment with a clear state of mind and at the same time there are those who
are against his impeachment with a clear state of mind.
Again we have those who are supporting his impeachment, without any reason whatsoever and at the same time we have
those who are against his impeachment, without any reason.
Mr. Oyeyemi, from what he was trying to clarify falls into the later group. He is against the impeachment, but
his reasons are not well clarified. This is the mistake that most writers from the Southwest are making. They have
gradually tribalised it.
Most of them have failed to access this issue from a neutral perspective.
Their only widely circulated defence cum propaganda is that it is because Obasanjo is a yoruba man. We are yet
to forget the roles that these writers played on why Buhari, Enwerem and Okadigbo should be removed. Indirectly,
they are stressing that in the Nigerian context, impeachment should only be applied to politicians of other ethnic
groups and never to a South west politician? Really? What happened to the Tinubu CHICAGO saga? They were all silent.
The likes of Reuben Abati who sees nothing good in anything that comes outside the Southwest is today "begging"
the Igbos to form a southern alliance to save Obasanjo.This is the same Igbos that he has never hidden his hatred
for.
The likes of TELL magazine has gone to sleep today. They seem to have lost vigour and steadfastness.
Today, Gani one of the best anti-corruption and pro-democracy campaingners in Nigeria is being called a nuinsance.Why?
He refused to be influenced by ethnic loyalty in this impeachment saga. He is being treated as a traitor,just because
he refused to compromise. May we ask, did Obasanjo really commit impeacheable offences? Till this hour, the president
is yet to come out with a concrete defence. He is yet to douse the air. Instead, he is still beating about the
bush. We are glad to hear his so called deal with some northern leaders. That goes a long way to show us the kind
of leaders we are producing in Nigeria.
As far as I am concerned, exposing this deal at this time is just a diversion. Let him clear himself of the impeachment
charges. Why hadn't he revealed this deal for almost 3 years now?
Also the Odi and the Tiv people are anxiously waiting for him to explain why he sent military expeditions to wipe
them out. Till today, the facts of these wicked, callous and heartless acts are shamelessly being hidden. In a
country that belongs to all, these people are callously dealt with, may be because they fall under the so called
minority status.
It's a shame that a government in this modern day can send soldiers to one of its villages to "fight"
unarmed men, women, children in the guise of looking for a handfull of armed men. Is this not one of the acts that
landed the likes of Milosevic in the world court? The perpetrators of these wicked acts might go free in the Nigerian
context because they are among the "untouchables" in Nigeria, but I strongly believe that God who created
those people must avenge the innocent blood shed.
In my conclusion, I advice the likes of Mr. Oyeyemi to think twice before they write. What you write today against
somebody might be used to judge you in the future.
Osita Chiagorom
Changchun, China
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