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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Many hazards of journalism (II)charles SoezeIt would be recalled that Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson formerly of the Foreign Desk of the The Guardian Newspaper also saw hell in the hands of security men over the issue of diplomatic postings that was reported by them in the paper in 1984. The harassment and suffering of journalists in Nigeria for performing their lawful duties have attracted international attention as a US-based organisation, Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ) described it as �absurd.� Its Executive Director, Ann Cooper condemned the expulsion order handed down to a Punch correspondent, Haruna Acheneje by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The House last August 14, 2003 passed a resolution, expelling Acheneje from the state over a story he wrote on protest against non-payment of allowances, based on interviews from the lawmakers themselves. As the CPJ issued the statement of condemnation, the Senate also directed the Nigeria Police to apologise to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for brutalising four of its members during the strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against hike in pump price of fuel. Four journalists, Mrs. Funmi Komolafe (Vanguard), Mr. Rotimi Ajayi (Vanguard), Mr. Ola Awoniyi (AFP) and Mr. Ola Oshodi (AFP) were beaten up by the Police at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja in July 2003 while covering the labour strike. In apparent condemnation of the intimidation and brutalisation of journalists in Nigeria, especially the expulsion order on Acheneje, CPJ insisted that it was a clear attempt to stifle critical reporting and an abuse of power by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. It was also reported that during the four weeks of fighting in Iraq, 15 journalists and media workers died and two are still missing. Accident killed some, while most died in combat. About 60 journalists died during the Vietnam War and the fighting in Cambodia. Recently, six journalists, Messrs. Wole Adebari, Semiu Oyetunji, Sola Bakare, Doyin Sokoya, Adesina Durosomo and Deji Onajobi, all of the Ogun State Government�s press crew, died in a road accident while returning from Abuja on official assignment. The government officials went by air while the �poor and struggling pen soldiers� went by road and eventually it was the end of the road. For how long will the journalists continue to suffer? Why treat them like classless or third class citizens? Despite the suffering of journalists, the profession of journalism is a noble one because it requires decency in communication skills, behaviour and physical appearance. Journalists who are also known as information officers are expected to always let the mass audience know of government activities as well as let the government know the reaction of the mass audience to government policies. Some years ago, a Nigerian Observer correspondent in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mr. Minere Amarchree, suffered like Akinyele over his story on impending teachers� strike, which security agents said coincided with the governor�s birthday. He was seriously beaten up and the security operatives used broken bottle to shave his hair. The Cross River State legislators recently ordered a Daily Independent correspondent, Mr. Bassey Inyang, to leave the state within seven days starting from last October 30. The legislators reacted to a report published on the front page of the last October 24, issue of the paper captioned: Bribery Scandal Rocks Cross River Assembly. The paper reported that some members of the House allegedly demanded and received N400,000 each from eight of the 12 serving commissioners in the state before they were cleared. Based on the activities of Nigerian journalists, one can argue like Babatunde Jose that �Nigerian Press is neither for nor against the government, but pro-Nigeria�. That is why anything on national interest, incessant increase in the price of essential and basic things, killings, bad roads, etc. the press must always help to arrest the situation because journalists have a clear and inescapable assignment to reflect public opinion and to seek and influence the government of the day. Kudos to Nigerian journalists because no harassment, blackmail or otherwise has ever stopped them from performing their legitimate duties for the mass audience. Concluded. �Soeze wrote in from Effurun
Wednesday, July 14, 2004 |
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