INTRODUCTION - University of Ilorin
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THE PRESS WAR AGAINST POLITICAL INDISCIPLINE IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF THE PUNCH NEWSPAPERS 1999-2007) BY OKEOWO, PRECIOUS MODUPE 08/15CA085 IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE HONOURS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN. MAY, 2011 i CERTIFICATION This project was read and approved, as meeting the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin. …………………… Dr. I. A. Jawondo Supervisor …………………… Dr. S.O. Aghalino Head of Department …………………… External Examiner ……………... Signature ……………... Signature ……………... Signature ii ………….. Date ………….. Date ………….. Date DEDICATION This project work is dedicated to the Almighty God, the great I am, Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omni competent. To the giver of life and all good things be glory for ever. iii AKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must thank God Almighty for helping me through this work, for His protection, care, love and guidance. Special thanks to Dr. I .A Jawondo, my able supervisor for his fatherly guidance and criticism and for accommodating my troubles. Sir I am most grateful for your suggestion and understanding, which helped to shape this work. I want to also register my sincere appreciation to my parents Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Okeowo for their love and encouragement, care and sacrifice to make sure I am educated. I am also grateful to my Brothers Mr. Moses Sunday Okeowo, Mr. David Olorunyomi Okeowo and my Sisters Miss Okeowo Olanike and miss Abimbola Okeowo. I will forever remember your good gestures. I am most grateful to my father in the Lord Rev. M. R. Popoola and Mummy Mrs. F. M. Pooola, who encourage me always as I pursue my academic carrier. My caring dad and mum Pastor and Mrs. J. K. D. Adeleye. I cannot thank you enough sir, for caring so much for me and your effort in making me educated. My sincere appreciation goes to my good brother, Mr. Oyetunji Abioye, a man of sacrifice, care and a sincere giver, for the sacrificial giving of his time money wisdom and connection to make sure that this project work was successful. I am short of words to appreciate you sir. iv I cannot forget the place of the Punch Newspapers, the Management, the Editor and the entire staff; for their support and assistance all through the period of writing this project. May this ever growing organization continue to prosper (Amen). I want to also say big thanks to my people, Mr. and Mrs. Bisi Olawepo, Mr. and Mrs. Musibau Olawale for their excellent support may you never lack in Jesus name. I also want to appreciate the effort of Bro Michael Abayomi (Holy Michael). Thank you all, God bless you. v CHAPTERISATIONS … … … … … … … … i Certification … … … … … … … … ii … … … … … … … … iii Acknowledgement … … … … … … … iv Chapterizations … … … … … … … vi Title Page Dedication CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUTION 1.0 Background to the study … … … … … 1 1.1 Aims and objectives of the study … … … … 1 1.2 Scope and limitations of the study … … … … 2 1.3 Research Methodology … … … … … 2 1.4 Literature review … … … … … … 2 1.5 Notes and references … … … … … … 9 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 The press in Nigeria… … … … … … 10 2.1 The press historical past … … … … … 11 2.2 The press challenges so far … … … … … 12 2.3 The state and the press … … … … … 23 2.4 The background to the press Law … … … … 24 2.5 The press law and censorship … … … … … 27 vi … … … 29 3.0 The National House of Representative 1999 … … … 31 3.1 Corruption and misappropriation of fund in the house of Senate 33 3.2 The press and the transition … 3.3 Notes and references 2.6 Notes and references … … … CHAPTER THREE … … … … … 36 … … … 37 CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 Journalists and objectivity … … … … … 38 4.1 Ethics and journalism … … … … … 39 4.2 Journalists and the people of Nigeria … … … … 42 4.3 Conclusion … … … … … … 45 4.4 Notes and references … … … … … … 47 4.5 Bibliography … … … … … … 48 … … vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY “Without information there is no accountability, Information is power and the more people who posses it, the more power is distributed”1 Journalism is more about dissemination of information which the press in Nigeria does daily, weekly and monthly through newspapers and magazines. There is an aspect of journalism that deals with investigation (investigative journalism). This goes beyond just news, it brings out surprising revelations about our society. Journalists having sensed irregularity or inappropriate acts in our politics investigate the issue and bring out the facts. In spite of the consequences of this action on individual journalist and the output, the practice continues. It is against this background that the researcher intends to study the press war against political indiscipline in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007 using the punch newspapers as a case study. 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objective of this research is to examine the press war against political Indiscipline in Nigeria with particular reference to the punch newspaper between 1999 which is the return of democracy to 2007 the last election held in Nigeria. 1 To examine the processes of investigative journalism, which is hidden to non-professionals, but cherished within the profession for its worth. 1.2 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The researcher intends to investigate the issue of press war against political Indiscipline in Nigeria. A case study of the Punch newspaper between 1999 and 2007 (that is the return of democracy to the last election). It is therefore important to note that this research focuses only on the punch war against political Indiscipline in Nigeria. Though references would be made to some of the roles of other newspapers against political Indiscipline in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007. 1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A synthesis of primary and secondary sources was adopted which include: series of textbooks, research project works, magazines, newspapers as well as oral interview Materials were consulted on the internet relating to the press war against political indiscipline in Nigeria. Oral interview was conducted with journalists from the punch newspaper Lagos and member of the management. Politicians were also interviewed. 1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW This project topic “The Press War Against Political Indiscipline in Nigeria” is a sensitive and as well a very important issue. Therefore, various 2 literatures and paper presentations has been combined. Although this literatures and presentations have not particularly pointed out the press war against political indiscipline in Nigeria but they have related points that have proved useful to this work. One of the important books on the Press in Nigeria is Press and Politics in Nigeria 1880- 1937 by professor Fred Omu, which carefully outlined the role of the press during the early and later stages of colonialism as an opposition organ to the imperialist government. The educated Africans were so concerned with the education of the Natives to be politically aware of their environment, not just any form of education but a knowledge that will make them a base for strong public opinion that the colonial government would find it difficult to ignore, the press formed itself as a strong opposition against the government with the hope of raising the political awareness of the people against the government of the day. Nonetheless; Omu X-rayed the press in Nigeria as leader pace setter in the sense that it was the first organ to begin the call for the dismantling of colonialism, he saw the press as the father of all Nigerian nationalists9 because all the early nationalists were at one time or the other newspaper men. Throughout the breath and length of the book, Omu identified and discussed two types of the press, the missionary and the African press, the African press he portrayed as being very antagonistic towards the Europeans and 3 their activities in Africa while the missionary press engaged in missionary propaganda. But it was the former that inspired most Nigerians to enter the newspaper business hence the growth of the press. Omu identified and discussed on the nature of the different newspapers that has appeared on the Nigerian news stand and also the pattern of the newspaper trade.2 Another important work to this study is The Nigerian newspaper press; 1859-1937: A study in origin, Growth and Influence (an unpublished Ph. D thesis 1965) by professor Fred I. Omu. This work outlined the origin of the press in Nigeria which was dated to 1859 with the first newspaper, IWE IROYIN a Yoruba vernacular newspaper published by Rev. Henry Townsend in Abeokuta which was meant to serve the Yoruba community. To Omu this was very remarkable because it opened a new chapter in the history of what is today called Nigeria, Omu traced the development of the indigenous newspaper in Nigeria which grew from a very small venture controlled by organizations to a very large scale concern now controlled mostly by individuals; and this change the structure of the industry. He also mentioned the low technical quality of the manpower, fund and facilities. He also treated the nature of the facilities at the disposal of this early press. Inspite of these problems, he portrayed the Nigerian press then as very power force which checked the colonial government and hence they enacted some press Laws. The press to him then “fearlessly ventilated public grievances 4 and sought to improve the local environment”. Omu in this scholarly work examined the different newspapers that have made their appearances on the news stand and gave general reason why some of them did not n last for long, some stayed for a short time while some lasted for a long time like The Punch Newspapers. The author examined the pattern and techniques of the business, he gave reasons why the circulation was handicapped and the factor that determined the magnitude of the profits and sources of income for the industry which came mainly from government subscription, advertisement, tribal supports and the popularity of the personnel’s at the head of the affairs. Also limited finance hindered its acquisition of new machines for operation and finally he identified and classified different types of newspaper likely weekly papers, provincial paper, Lagos papers, Southern paper, Daily papers, and monthly papers, quarterly and missionary publication. Also the origins of the different press laws were traced and why such law came into being. While my work is to concentrate on the Daily Times newspaper, Omu’s work treated the newspaper industry as a whole, with more emphasis on the political influence of newspapers at the time they existed.3 One of the relevant works is that of Jerry Goldman in his book titled “The challenge of democratic government in America” he focuses on the role of mass media in promoting communication from a government to its citizens and from citizens to their government. He pointed out that in democratic 5 government, information must flow freely in both directions: a democratic government can be responsive to public opinion only if its citizens can make their opinions known. He also said that a story’s political significance, educational value or broad social importance does not determine whether it is covered by the media, as a lay man will think, rather the primary criteria of a story’s newsworthiness is usually its audiences appeal as judged by its high impact on readers, its sensationalist aspect, its close to home character and its timeliness. A major news media seek to cover political events through first hand reports from journalists on the scene. Because so many significant political events occur in the nation’s capitals virtually all citizens must rely on the mass media for their political news4 Ayo Olutokun and Dele Seteolu in The media and democratic rule in Nigeria said the media is not immune to corruption, ethnicity or factionalism, all of which afflict the Nigeria socio-polity. This has necessarily detracted from their moral profile and consequently weakened their role in democracy. Self cleansing, internal regulation mechanisms such as the pres council as well as keen commercial competition, help to restrain, in a measure some of these abuses. Ayo olutokun and Dele Seteolu in this work dwell much on the bad side of the press. They pointed out the areas of weakness of the press in Nigeria. 6 They also made it known that these weaknesses are reducing the impact of the press in the democratic rule in Nigeria. They called on the authorities concern to do something about it. though no specific method or way out was prescribed or given to help the press out of the weaknesses discribed5 Governor Chimaraoke Nnamani of Enugu State in The press and the Nigeria project addressed the evolution of the press (media) in Nigeria and the developmental stages of the media. He also pointed out some of the problems facing the media. He said “someday, I hope the media, in the self study will seek to understand what now looks like a hunger for heroes and subsequent lowering of the standards in the new emerging culture of scaling it down to create celebrities anyhow. In the first place, the failure to project the right social frame for Nigerians to consider their society and for the citizenry to relate their expectation frames work. Exposed the press as having failed to take up the challenge of positioning their beloved country for progressive not necessarily a leaping, changing and blotting, race to sustainable growth and development6 Professor Sam Oyoubaire in The media and the democratic process in Nigeria (1) said “the point is that the media has a constitutional mandate in the advancement of the political and democratic process. It is equally true that the nature and character of the democratic process greatly impacts upon the performance of the media. It is in this sense that the nature and character of the 7 military regime can affect tremendously the performance of the media just as the nature and character of a democratic regime can do the same. Therefore until it is fully researched and analyzed. It is not enough to proclaim that democracy necessarily provided a much healthy environments for the media or that a military regime necessarily undermines or stifles the fundamental performance of the media. He succeeded in comparing the impact of both military and civilians’ government on the media generally. He also examines how much the media is faring under each of the regimes (military and civilian regimes). He did not treat the press war against political indiscipline in Nigeria.7 Richard Joslyn in his Mass media and elections described the activities of journalists in covering, collating arranging and presenting information (reports) in a way that make it interesting and pleasant to the audience. He said “News coverage is typically tact-based and non opinionated but also interpretive thematic and dramatic. Journalists select the each and symbols to be transmitted to their audiences; organize and amputee them in a way that produces coherent, interesting and dramatic stories they present a simplified, engaging and understandable account of complex and ambiguous phenomena. In the process they render political judgments that might not be shared by all” He treated various activities of journalist which a lay man might not understand hence its professionalism. The activities of journalist and their work during election was the major point treated in his work8 8 1.5 NOTES AND REFERENCES (1) Professor Sam Oyoubire “The media and the democratic process in Nigeria (1) 1999 (2) Prof Fred Omu ‘Press and politics in Nigeria’ 1880 - 1937 pp35-62 (3) The Nigerian Newspaper Press ‘A study in Origin growth and influence’ 1859 – 1937 (4) Development policy management the work bulletin No3 September 2001 pp30 (5) Jerry Gold “The challenge of democracy government in America” it euphony milting company Boston Toronto (1992) pp188 (6) Development policy management network bulletin “Media and accountability” No3 September 2001 pp30-34 (7) Chimaraoke Nnamani “ The press and the Nigeria project” october2003 (8) Richard Joslyn “Mass media and elections Newbery award records inc (1984) pp99 and pp109. 9 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 THE PRESS IN NIGERIA Nigeria has the biggest and most virile press community in Africa followed by South Africa and Kenya (park 1993:1). Ogbodu (1996:1) conservatively puts the number of publications (weeklies, dailies and Magazines) at 116, although a number of these are fickle and are at the margin of survival. The period since 1999, have witnessed a mushrooming of sorts in the newspaper industry. With new titled like the Anchor; and national interest springing up as well as the re-launch of moribund or prostrate titles such as the concord. As political competition heats up more new titles are expected to be barn, most of them with a predictably short life span. The punch, a privately owned newspaper is perhaps the most wildly read newspaper and its print run is between 60,000 and 80,000 copies per day. The guardian, a favorable of the intellectuals and respected for its independence sober views, had a print run in 1999 of between 50 and 70,000 copies per day. Other newspapers such as the privately owned national concord, this Day, post express, the vanguard, as well as the state owned Daily Times, and the new Nigeria do less well in circulation terms than the punch and the guardian. 10 The Magazine market is dominated by three giants namely, Tell Magazine, The news and News watch, and have circulation figures of about 100,000, 80,000 and 50,000 respectively. One under reported, but increasingly assertive newspapers, genre are the vernacular newspapers, which in the Yoruba speaking region made a rebound in the closing years of military rule. A rash of vernacular newspapers have spring up in recent years, trying to build on the success of Alaroye whose circulation competes favourably with the most successful national dailies.1 2.1 THE PRESS HISTORICAL PAST The Nigerian press or the press in Nigeria, is a concept that predates colonial state and society, as well as the Nigerians state project in other words, the idea of journalism in Nigeria, which began, one in calabar in 1847 and another in Abeokuta in 1859, in what eventually came to be a new nation state, has witnessed a chequered evolution and varied roles. It has run from that evangelical (church) journalism in Calabar alongside that of Reverend Henry Townsends Iwe Iroyin in Abeokuta, to the nationalism journalism of Herbert Macaulay’s Lagos Daily news, Nnamdi Azikiwes West African pilot, up through the post- independence communication. THE DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWSPAPERS The history of indigenous newspaper industry in Nigeria could be traced to the emergence of IWE IROHIN in 1859 in Abeokuta; it was established by a 11 missionary, Rev. Henry Townsend of the church missionary society. The paper was published in vernacular with eight pages which were divided into two columns and measured six inches weight by eight inches. IWE IROHIN was first titled “Iwe irohin itan awon ara egba ati Yoruba”. Which means in English “The Newspaper for the Egbas people and the Yorubas. By the time of its appearance with as large number of the Yoruba literates, the paper got an impressive response from the people which made the publisher to broaden the scope of the newspaper to include reporting on the Yoruba civil wars and other events outside the church activities which the newspaper wad purposely established to propagate. With the eruption of fracas in Abeokuta in 1867, all the Europeans there were expelled thus, the end of IWE IROHIN and thus the birth of Anglo-African 1863 in Lagos published by Mr. Robert Campbell, a West-Indian businessman, Anglo-Africa was meant to cover events in Lagos as the centre of colonial administration, thereafter many other newspaper emerged in Nigeria like the Weekly Record in 1891 published by J. P. Jackson, one of the best names in the industry then, both Lagos Echo and Lagos Weekly Times are all weekly newspapers and circulated in Lagos and this was a common characteristic with the newspaper before 1926. Provincial newspapers emerged also among which are the Nigeria Herald published at Onitsha in 1921 by W. Cousin Aurora Calabar by W. Coulson 1914 and the chronicle 1908 by Christopher Josephus Johnson, these 12 newspaper revolutionized the indigenous newspaper policy by shifting the emphasis from the usual purveyance of news and information to a more analytical academic approach to problem. In 1910 the Nigerian Times, one of the early indigenous Newspaper before 1926 ran into a financial difficulties and thus had to be forced into suspension after 18 months. The 1914 amalgamation posed a challenge to the industry in terms of wider coverage of events and circulation, at this point one thing has become clear, that all these papers were either owned by the missions, private individuals or provincial governments and thus newspapers were used to enhance tribal interests and as personal public relation organ or political interest. Most of these newspapers could not last for long in the market because of lack of fund to run them. The African Messenger and the Lagos Daily Times were very prominent indigenous newspapers that were established to achieve the black awareness among the Africans Perse and of course with time they folded up. In 1925 some members of Lagos chambers of commerce led by Adeyemo Alakija decided to float company to publish the Nigeria Daily Times (Nigerian printing and publishing Company) to fill the gap left by the colonial governments decision to stop the publication of a news bulletin from Reuter news Agency, thus the Nigerian printing and publishing company was registered and subsequently took over the African messengers newspaper to enable its editor, Mr. E. Ikoli our edit the Nigeria Daily Times. Daily Times became the 13 first truly indigenous newspaper and till our period the oldest of all the existing newspapers.2 Freed Slave s and the press As the slaves labour declined and the subsequent abolition of the trade in 1833, most of the treed slaves began to trace their origin and most of them were able to locate Abeokuta, Lagos and Badagry as their homes. With the little exposure to the western education and the fact that they found it difficult to infuse themselves with natives made them more easily accessible to the missionaries and subsequently became educated. Most of these freed slaves got joys with the already existing press houses then, it was from these most of them got into the newspaper trade mostly as compositors, machine operators, printer, binders and even journalists and management personnel. We should note that most of those slaves were from West Africa Colonies. When slave trade was stopped most of the freed slaves departed to Sierra Leone at various times throughout the century and became important actors in the history of Lagos, Gold Coast, Gambia, and numerous other places in the African continent especially in the development of press in Nigeria. One of such freed slaves who had much influence on the development of the newspaper press in Nigeria is Edward Wilmot Blyden who had an Igbo ancestry and was the founding Editor of the “Liberian Herald” which had a lot of influence on the youths of West African Colonies. Dr. Bankole Bright who 14 had a hand in setting up some small newspaper ventures in Accra. WallaceJohnson who founded and edited a maritime Journal of labour news and later worked for Lagos Daily News had a lot of influence on Nnamdi Azikiwe’s establishment of newspaper, first in Accra and later in Lagos, they were very good friends. He inspired Azikiwe by writing for his Accra based African morning post. Wallace-Johnson had a hand in the establishment of “African Standard” which was a newspaper for the West African youth League. Most of the newspaper owners in Nigeria then, like, Herbert Macaulauy, Azikiwe were all members of this youth League in one time or the other. J. Payne Jackson, Alfred O. Taiwo, Emeric Macaulay were all descendants of freed slaves who established and operated their newspaper in Lagos, thus have encouraged the later generations of Nigerian to go into the newspaper industry by the end of 19th century and start of 20th century. The freed slaves served as a source of inspiration to the establishment and development of newspaper industry in Nigeria, they were pace-setters.3 Factors that led to the consolidation of the Development and Establishment of Newspaper industry: It was quite clear that some of these early newspapers were established for certain objectives. According to Mr. Ikoli, “my purpose is to get people aware of government policy and educate them for the purpose of future 15 nationalist movement”. While to REV. H. Townsend, “my mission is to make the people read that is to form the habit of seeking information by reading. Through this medium, REV. Hentry Townsend spread Christianity in the Yoruba countries. “I have set up a Yoruba newspaper, my first is out, I am writing the second”. Most of the Newspapers that came after “IWE IROHIN” were inspired by freed slaves as a means of educating the Africans and introducing Christianity, civilization which was in this part of African pioneered by missionaries who founded the press in Nigeria. Iwe irohin apart from being the organ for religious propagation also aided the cultural and social growth of the Yoruba’s by reporting on this aspect of their life. The paper also reported on the political events especially the Yoruba civil wars which earned it larger readership. Campbell Anglo African was established for business motives and this was the reason why he considered Lagos a virile ground for his ventures, in short the main motive of Mr. Robert Campbell newspaper was to cover and serve the commercial and social life of Victorian Lagos. As a business man all he wanted was to promote his business through Anglo Africa the first English newspaper to appear in Lagos. This was established in 1880 to promote political life of the owner and editor, Mr. Andrew M. Thomas and Mr. R. B. Bkaize, thus after the 1914 amalgamation most papers that came up were mainly provincial newspapers which where meant to promote the different tribal interests in Nigeria especially 16 political interest .hence from 1900 onwards the Lagos newspapers were adamant champions of tribal chauvinism in the best and worst sense of them. Politics in the more traditional sense did become important with introduction of constitutional, judicial and legislative charges in an environment less homogenous than early Lagos. These changes included the land acquisition ordinance in opposition to which Herbert Macaulay and hid newspaper and supporters in Lagos spent fortune. The Eagle And Lagos critic was severally criticized by other newspapers because it was not too critical of the government hence it was suspected to be subsidized for by LT, Governor Griffith on behalf of the colonial government hence its motives were to define the government. During the formative years of the Nigerian National Democratic party in the early 1920s, the leader Herbert Macaulay established the Lagos Daily News to support his party stand and many other newspapers followed suit with the primary purpose of putting across their parties’ stand and in addition to their other functions as newspaper, that is, spreading general information on the activities of the government of the day. Most of these papers were privately owned. In all, the indigenous newspapers were floated to either defend the owner’s political interest or business concern and hence the tribal course, all of them had one thing in common, they were all determined to end colonialism. 17 Hence the indigenous newspaper aided the ventilation of social, political grievances and the inculcation of the nationalist consciousness on Nigerians Due to the land tenure system of Africa society, newspapers proprietors found it very difficult to get land to buy on which to established their ventures Rev. Hope Wadell of the pressbytarian church of Scotland mission arrived calabar in 1846 with the aim of establishing an educational institution where church articles, hymns catechism books were printed but later the institution was transformed into a big vocational training school where printers were trained. The main feature of this newspaper printers at this time was that they used church premises for the publishing companies because they could not get land of their own because they land tenure system of family ownership of land would not permit the sale of the land. In fact, in the case of calabar area, land was secured from the families through the local chiefs, so that by 1849, hope Waddell had succeeded in publishing on the spot copies of religious newsletters, vernacular newspapers and right hundred copies of the catechism materials both in Efik and English. Rev. Townsend who also established his printing company in Ake alongside with CMS church premises was given land by the local chiefs who had no interest in Christian religion and later he transformed his printing press into school of printing. Rev. Townsend found it very difficult to get land at the onset because the local people could sell or give out their land which they used 18 for farming hence the little land given to them for church purposes (normally in the evil forest) were converted into publishing houses. In case of Mr. Robert Campbell, he used his influence within the Lagos business community to purchase a piece of land after much tireless effort at a give away price. But most of the newspaper houses were established on rented apartments, because their proprietors could not get a piece of land of their own to erect their own structure and in most cases they could not possess the money to purchase the land. Thus the issue of land became very problematic to the establishment of indigenous newspaper industry in Nigeria because the rented apartments do not always fit in for the publishing business due to the nature of equipment used, thus much space is needed for the business. The early indigenous newspaper proprietors could not afford to buy new machine for their industries hence they restored to the use of second hand (imported) machines from Europe like the one used by the Abiodun printing press in Ibadan, which was a second hand, hand press machine. Also, Henry Townsend used his brother’s second printing machine which was a hand press because it was entrusted to him earlier on, he taught himself how to use it probably with the help of its manual and began to teach others. Like his contemporaries, Mr. Campbell used for his newspaper a second hand printing machine (hand operated) although from family of printers he could not afford the cost of buying new machine and the expertise to maintain it 19 here was not available. Till 1926, there was no single new modern printing machine in Nigeria; it was Daily Times that introduced it in the 1930s. very common to all indigenous printers before 1926 was the used of other printing press for the production of their newspaper because most of them afford the second hand machines. Thus, the compositors used then were all out-modeled, so the production process was so slow that only about 20 newspapers could be produced per hour and this had to be done printing page after page which made newspapers production then cumbersome. The early indigenous newspaper did not have telex equipments, typewriters and cameras which hindered their operations and made the profession of journalism not too attractive. The lack of basic equipment during the early stages of the development of newspaper industry in Nigeria hindered the speedy development of the newspaper industry. Most of the early newspaper men were self educated individuals who learnt the profession of journalism on their own effort. With the influx of immigrants from the new world the printing industry was flooded and improved. With the establishment of printing schools in Abeokuta, Calabar by Rev. Townsend and Waddell, Some natives were trained in the art of printing to the extent that in 1860, Rev. Townsend thought of sending a boy abroad for further training in printing but later changed his mind. It thus became clear that at the initial stages the newspaper industry lacked the necessary skills to operate. There were no professionally trained journalists, only few printers were trained 20 then which was very inadequate for the inadequate for the industry. More boys then took up apprenticeship and regular printing works and houses were established and it was these printers that later turned journalists. In some cases like that of Mr. E. Ikoli who was a teacher, but later turned journalist. The printing schools then produced individuals who later manned the industry like Mr. James Ede who was one of the first indigenous printers later became the chief printer for the CMS press in Abeokuta. With the establishment of printing schools and job training for printers, the problem of professional printers was solved. On the other hand, the main profession of journalism still suffered since the indigenous newspaper houses lacked the professional manpower thus it was teachers, businessmen, lawyers, doctors that turned themselves into journalists over night, not until 1965 when Daily Times of Nigeria established a training centre for journalists, there was formal training school for indigenous professional journalists. Thus the professional foundation of early newspaper press in Nigeria was laid upon the printers. The early newspaper press in Nigeria lacked professionalism. And this hindered the development of the early newspaper organization in Nigeria; Daily Times would be the first newspaper house to set up a professional code in the industry with a defined guideline of operation. Before 1926, the newspaper industry lacked professionals and this contributed to the lack of growth and 21 development of the industry within our period and most of the problems the press then had with the government then was due to lack professionalism.3 2.2 THE PRESS CHALLENGES SO FAR Nigeria has boasted the most free and outspoken press than Any African country, but also one which has consistently been the target of harassment by the past military dictatorships and now under the governance of Nigeria’s current civilian president. Many agents of Nigeria’s Press have been imprisoned as a result of their warring against political indiscipline. The organ activist and television producer ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed for treason by order of the Sani Abacha dictatorship in 1995(resulting in the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations and other sanctions from abroad). Even under the current civilian government, journalists have continued to come under fire even from the government as with the June 2006 arrest of Gbenga Aruleba and Rotimi Durojaiye of African independent television under charges of sedition.4 From other popular establishments such as the self-imposed exile of this day’s Isioma Daniel following the riots in Northern Nigeria over “sensitive comments” which she had made and the 2002 miss world pageant a fatwa calling for her beheading was issued by the Mallams of Northern Nigeria but was declared null and void by the relevant religions authorities in Sandi Arabia, and the Obasanjo faced an international public nations smearing (especially 22 within journalistic circles) in the aftermath which was not helped by the Amina Lawal controversy which had occurred prior to the riots, which had seen over 20 dead.5 2.3 THE STATE AND THE PRESS Due to the instability of the various governments over the years the relationship between the state and the press has fluctuated, depending upon a number of factors. At times their have been some moderated consideration given to press freedom, while other times the crack down on journalists disagreeing with the government has been blatant and violent.6 The constitutional privileges that are in writing are simply not been experienced in the real world of daily Nigerian life. On the surface it appears there is much diversity of expression due to the large number of media outlets in the nation. However when a closer observation is made, the complex political and social systems of the nation are the context in which these media organizations operate and it is discovered that the “societal watch dog function of the press does not operate in reality in Nigeria as it does in more free and open societies. The committee to protect journalists, a New York based non profit, non partisan Committee to protect journalists noted that “although a new constitution was promo gated on May 5th 1999, it was modeled largely after the 1979 Constitution and offered the media no specific protection.”7 23 About 20 anti-media decrees were identified by this organization in the revised Nigeria constitution. One of the measures was repeated, the one that called for News papers and magazines to register with the government. Later it was suptitiously introduced as the Nigerian press council (Amendment) Decrees No. 60 of 1999. While press attack decreased significantly after one transition from military to civilian rule, there remained reported abuses. (p) Reported that shortly after the election, police.8 2.4 THE BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS LAW The press law was enacted because the press was very outspoken in their war against political indiscipline in Nigeria. The law was enacted by the government to regulate the newspaper business and to secure some measures of control over who to publish newspaper and what could be published.9 Press law in Nigeria dated back to March 4, 1863 which originated from England with the ordinary number three that introduced English laws and statutes which were in force within the realm of England. On January, 1863 this meant that the English laws of sedition and defamations were applicable to newspaper operating in Lagos. Thus, newspapers house were able to prosecution for criminal defamations if they publish matters which were “likely to injure the reputations of any person by exposing him/her to hatred, contempt or ridicules or damages 24 any person in his profession or trade by injuring his reputations “however publication was not an offence it was true and for public benefit now the law placed the defendants at great disadvantage as what is true and is for public benefit are not easy to prove. So, whosoever goes against the law is at the mercy of the trial Judge and Journalist could also evade prosecution.10 It is important to note that the introduction of the English sedition law into Nigeria marked the era of the coming of press law into Nigeria. With these laws a newspaper in Nigeria could be tried for sedition against the Royal House of England, the Government and Constitution of United Kingdom. It was under these laws that the editor of the Lagos Observer was charged for contempt of court in 1882 which was the first significant suit against a Nigeria journalist; he was charged for publishing an article which was considered to be against the administration of justice in the colony. It was after this that many newspaper ordinances were enacted to control the press activities in Nigeria. For example, the 1903 and 1909 Sedition Ordinances were passed and to consolidate them, was the Criminal Code of 1916 and during the period of great political stress it was amended in 1917 and of course the press regulation ordinances of 1933 under which newspaper editors were regularly tried for sedition, libel or contempt. With the turn of the century the educated Africans became disappointed in British Administration and this was reflected on the press from mere condemnation to an intense and 25 uncompromising hostility to the Lagos government. This new development did not go down well with Governor Macgregor who made the way of the introduction of a law to restrain the activities of the newspaper industry. The newspaper ordinance of 1903 was the brain child of Sir Ralph Moor, the High Commissioner of the Protectorate of southern Nigeria where the educated Africans caused much problem for the government via the press. This was the more reason why it seemed strange that his radical colonial policy notwithstanding, Sir Chamberlin readily agreed in principles to Moors’ request, thus the Secretary of State was of the opinion that it might be desirable to adopt legislation in Trinidad in 1894 for regulating the printing and publishing or newspaper.11 Chamberlin then went on to transmit for Moors information “a copy of the relevant west Indian (precedents) which made provisions for the registration of the owner, publisher and printers of newspaper, and the proprietors are required by the law to pay a caution deposit of two hundred pounds with the government in form of Bond to guarantee for payment of publications damage and fines. It was on these laws that the promulgation of different press laws in Nigeria were based. Hence the 1933 ordinance was passed into law to regulate the press. Immediately after independence, many laws and degrees were put into effect to check the practices of journalism and as it were to clip the wings of the press and hence many libel and sedition laws. 1964 newspaper Amendment Act 26 ostensibly forbids the publications of false reports. It was a law under which any journalist could be sent to jail for any publication regarded by government as seditions. All these laws were made by the different government based on the earlier English laws to curtail the press, hence the press laws in Nigeria during our period had its origin from England and this from the fact that government felt insecure with allowing the press to publish whatever information that came their way. No wonder in 1828 Thomas Balington Macaulay coined the press to be the “fourth estate of the realm because of its power and influence.12 2.5 THE PRESS LAW AND CENSORSHIP Adigun A. B Agbaje explained that reason while the press laws of Nigeria are so difficult to describe is because of the complexity of the everchanging society in which they are found. Agbaje describe it as a “battlefield of representation”. Engaged in this battlefield are such segments of society as the educational system, the work environment, popular culture, the mass media, the languages of the various groups, sports and other competing forms of entertainment. Censorship is a recurring problem in Nigeria regardless of the supposed freedoms expressed in the constitution. Both during periods of civilian rule and military dictatorships, the nation has never experienced a complete assurance of a free Press. Government philosophy and document may state that press freedom exists, but in the day today affairs of life, such freedom fluctuate willingly.13 27 Four years after Nigeria gained independence from Britain; the Nigeria Federal House of Parliament passed a controversial Newspaper law. The newspapers (Amendment) Act of 1964 imposed controversial restrictions on the press in the new nation’s early development stage. Nigeria scholar Luke Uka Uche points out the irony of this Act, adopted by the leaders of the nation so soon after gaining independence. He notes, “If the colonial government had stringently imposed such sanctions it would have been very doubtful that Nigeria nationalism would have seen light of day through the pages of newspapers. Ironically, we have just seen how Azikiwe, who later became the first Nigeria President, fought a 1948 newspaper ordinance that merely sought for the payment of cash as part of a security deposit prior to the publication of a newspaper”14 28 NOTES AND REFERENCES 1. Coker I. H., Landmark of the Nigerian Press – An Outline of the Origin and Development of the Newspaper Press in Nigeria 1851–1965 Nigerian Printing and Publishing Company, Lagos 1970 pp50 2. Cole D. P. Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos. Cambridge University Press, pp46 3 Curtis P. D. The Atlantic Slave Trade - A Census. The University of Wisconsin Press, 1972 pp64 4 Udueze P. E. Development of the Newspaper industry in Nigeria: 18591900 (B. A. Thesis Unpublished), Ilorin, 1988 pp5-7 5 Wickwar W. H. The Struggle for the freedom of press 1819 – 1832: London 1909 Political Educational MKannual, Published by the Directorate for Social Mobilization, Abuja Nigeria 1986. 6 Omu F. I. A., Press and Politics in Nigeria 1880 – 1937 Ibadan History Series, Ibadan 1978 pp7 7 Ibid pp89 8 9 Ibid pp133-135 Ikoli E,“The Nigerian Press 1900- 1950” West African Review June 1950 pp13. 10 Townsend G. Memoirs of the Rev. H . Townsend Marshall Brothers, London, 1887 pp16 29 11. Obiachere B. I. Studies in Southern Nigeria History (ed) Frank Cass, London 1982 pp24 12. Leo-Spitzer, The Creoless of Sierran Leon: Their response to colonialism 1870- 1945 University of life Press, Ife, Nigeria 1975 pp22. 13. Elias T. O. The Nigerian Legal System Longman, London 1963 pp42- 50 14. Ibid pp63 30 CHAPTER THREE THE PRESS AND POLITICS 3.0 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE 1999 Alhaji Salisu Buhari, a business tycoon dealing in computers typified the prosperity of a military-assisted “contractoracy” under Nigeria’s rentier political culture of zoning that went on in the PDP in the months immediately before and after the presidential elections of 1999. Buhari defeated Alhaji Sadiq Yar’Adua, a journalist to emerge as the nominee of the North-West zone for the office of the Speakers of the House of Representatives. The news journal got wind of the allegation level against Buhari. In the best tradition of investigative journalism, the news thoroughly reasoned Buhari’s claim about his age, which was lower than what the constitution stipulated for the office he held; as well as debunked his claim to have attended the University of Toronto other newspapers and magazines as well as human rights groups across the country enlisted in the moral crusade to get justice.1 Buhari, on his part denied the allegations slammed a hefty multi-million naira label suit on The News Magazine, employing the service of a well heeled legal luminary and played the ethic card by insinuating that a southern (Yoruba) newspaper was out to get him, a Hausa-Fulani politician. Neither the news nor the other sections of the media relented or deterred by his threats. 31 The Comet on July 16, 1999 in its second editorial on the issue advocated that “Meanwhile we reaffirm our position in an earlier comment. The honourable speaker should climb down from his high office until investigations’ are concluded”2 An influential newspaper, the Guardian in a similar vein argued in its editorial comment of July 20, 1999 entitled “Buhari the path of hour that”; The house of representative has a constitutional responsibility in the matter. “The members should now rise up to the challenge by conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. It would be awkward for the embattled speaker to preside over the affairs of the house during the course of the investigation. He should vacate his office until the matter is over. This is the honourable thing to do”3. The punch newspaper from July 15, 1999 to July 21, 1999 reported various activities of the embattle speaker to maintain his position. The punch also reported that he was advised by the President Olusegun Obasanjo to resign honourably in order to save the mage of the new administration and the National Assembly on July 18, 1999. But he, been adamant says “I won’t resign” 4 According to The Punch newspaper of July 21, 1999, “Buhari Adamant says I won’t resign”.5 On July 22, 1999 the Punch Newspaper reported “chaos in the house of representative” as a cover story and under it reads: 32 Apparently overwhelmed by sustained pressures, the embattled speaker of the House of Representative Alhaji Salisu Buhari vacates his seat to allow the house debate a motion calling for investigations into the allegations of fraud and forgery against him.6 Further reports of The Punch on 23rd, 24th and 25th July 1999 showed his prosecution and the full police report that finished the case.7It should be noted that be it not for the pressure mounted on the speaker and the house of representative, justice would not have prevailed. Hence the press war against political indiscipline. 3.1 CORRUPTION AND MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE HOUSE OF SENATE The impeachment by 81 to 11 votes on august 8, 2000 of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo as Senate President, over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds had a lot to do with the media advocacy of a sanitized National Assembly. Okadigbo, it should be recalled assumed office as Senate President on November 18, 1999 following the resignation of his predecessor, Chief Evans Enwerem, in circumstances similar to that of Alhaji Salisu Buhari. Although the media had generally put a spotlight in the National Assembly, which it fingered for truancy and for approving extravagant allowances for itself, no serious allegation was level against Dr. Okadigbo until Senate itself in July 2000 partly as a result of its own internal politic set up the 33 Idris Kuta panel to take a closer look at the award of contracts in the Senate between 4th June 1999 and 17th July 2000. The other terms of reference of the panel include, (a) Identify the offices of the Senate and other Senators that participated in the exercise of contracts award, (b) Identify those to whom the contracts were awarded, the amount involved and the purposes, (c) Determine the extent to which laid down procedures were observed in the award of the contracts beginning from the stunning revelation of Alhaji Ibrahim Salim, Clerk of the House of the Kuta Panel on July 24. The media consciously mainstreamed the issue. Interestingly, even after Dr. Okadigbo was indicated for spending an unauthorized N30 million to purchase cars (He purchase one hundred and twenty (120) cars for 109 Senators), N37.5 million to furnish his own official cars among others misdeeds. He continues to maintain his innocence and threatened not to resign At this point, especially following the release of the Kuta Panel report, the media piled pressure on Okadigbo to vacate his office. Front page coverage was given to the issues involved and resulting controversy thereby making his case popular and arousing public interest.8 The Punch Newspaper of July 19, 2000 has as a colure stogy “senate probe deputy”. Also, on July 25, 2000 says “clerk opens can of worms”.9 34 While in This Days August 3rd 2000 in a representation article entitled “Just go” states, Okadigbo allowed himself the indulgence of situating his power and responsibility within the number of contracts he could award to himself and his cronies – it was even more tragic that the man would lie so blantantly to the probe panel – if by now somebody has not surrendered his medal’ (I did not say mace) then he should be told in clear terms that the market is over” In spite of waving the ethic card by ravening many Igbo behind him and making threatening calls to editors, Okadigbo had to vacate his office, principally, as a result of media advocacy. Although in Nigeria’s fractions politics, Okadigbo’s case may have been partly engineered by his political opponents, the media insisted on a minimum standard of decency for high state officials.10 3.2 THE PRESS AND THE TRANSITION The press in the New world order, have emerged as a crucial part of the oppouratus for vetting and legitimizing election conceived here broadly is the print organ of mass communication, they provide information to the voters about the candidates, the electoral process, actual voting dates the rules of the game. All aspect of the transition to democracy (1998-1999) were extensively covered and intensively reported by the press. Following the de-freezing of the political space by General Abdusalam Abubakar on 20th July 1998 and the release of a transition time table, a senior 35 journalist Mr. Tunji Oseni stressed the responsibility of the media in a transition programme. There is reason to believe that the media by and large took its responsibilities seriously. To keep transitions on track for instance tell magazine did week after week a countdown to the hand over in every single issue it published between July 1998 and May 1999. The Punch Newspaper in its November 7 edition page7 says 24 more weeks for Abubakar to hand over to an elected civilian president-in bold letters and boxes11. This was a kind of advocacy advertising for the transition programme. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was on its toes by the media in the interest of fair elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission was also advised by the Guardian editorial comment of August 19, 1999 (p16) to put in place measures to avert rigging of elections. It also counseled that INEC should distance itself from manipulation by security agencies, state administrators and bureaucrats. In terms balanced courage, the 3 competing parties got fair courage, although the effect of bigger Advertising spending by the PDP was felt in enhanced courage. However, the regulatory guidelines of the press council and the Nigeria Broad Casting Commission prevented any serious excesses. Abuses and irregularities were filing documented and monitored by the media.12 36 NOTES AND REFERENCES 1. Development policy management network bulletin “media and accountability” September 2001 pp 5-11 2. Ibid 3. The guardian Newspapers July 20, 1999 “Buhari the path of honour,” Bola Adeoye, pp 17 4. The punch Newspapers July 15, 1999 to July 21, 1999 Buhari adamant, says “I wont resign” Bolaji Adebisi pp19 5. Ibid 21 6. The Punch Newspaper of July 22, 1999 “Chaos in the house of representative” Bolaji Adebisi, pp19 7. The Punch Newspapers July 25 1999, The full Police report. pp1 and 3 8. Development Policy management network bulletin, “media and accountability” No3 September 2001 pp18-20 9. The Punch Newspaper, July 19 and 25 2000, “Senate probe Okadigbo” Bolaji Adebisi pp 1 and 2. 10. Professor Sam Oyouvbire “The Media and the Democratic Process in Nigeria” (1) 1999 pp4. 11. Ibid pp5-6 12 Ibid pp7 37 CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 JOURNALISM AND OBJECTIVITY Objectivity subsumes all mass communication virtues. It covers the individual Journalist and the institution that employs him .It is a kind of operation guideline for professional competence. It is a way of trying to understand reality based on the collation of observable facts. Objective is an essential correspondence between knowledge of a thing and the thing itself. Objectivity is problematic in public affairs journalism because elements and practices are taken for granted and perpetuated by journalists, when they should be critically examined. The reporter reader, the viewer, the conventions, the terms and processes of communication, the institution’s language. But the investigating and interpretative functions of objectivity is closely related with responsibility and they are twin concepts, which forms the core of ethics in journalism. The negative or positive performance of the press is judged by objectivity and responsibility. Objectivity is a truthful comprehensive and intelligent asset of The Punch, even in a contest, which gives it meaning but the reporters’ emotional and personal opinion should not be involved. Journalists are human beings and are the sum of their experiences which differ from one journalist to another. They often think that they are neutral witnesses of reality but in actual fact, the act of observing often changes what is 38 being observed. Some people play-up the television correspondent and their cameras, which often transform them from mere information sources to actors on display. Others may become far less articulated or even nervous at the sight of cameras. In either case, the audience accepts the information presented as an accurate representation of reality. It is possible for the mass media practitioner (journalist) to be objective while the institution that employ them remain largely un-objective. The objectivity of a journalist is dependent on the use to which employers put their reporters. The working condition established for them, the news polices of the employers and the extent to which the commercial and profit interests influence the institutions communication performance.1 4.1 ETHICS AND JOURNALISM According to Edwards (1972), an ethical theory should be regarded as objective if it holds that the truth of what is assorted by some ethical proposition is independent of that person who uses the propositions. Although a great deal have been written about ethics, it is pertinent to take a look at some ethical problems that arise when journalists canny out their duties. INVASION OF PRIVACY No one ever intends his life to be an open-book. Every person has the right to his or her own privacy. A journalist is therefore not permitted by both 39 law and ethics guiding the profession to invade people’s privacy. Invasion of privacy is not just running into the private home alone. If a journalist uses someone’s picture in a highly damaging news story or he uses someone’s picture for an advertisement without the person’s knowledge or approval, he has invaded personal privacy. Also writing on ones highly private affairs without his/her consent or approval is invasion of privacy. BROWN ENVELOPE SYNDROME Seduction and corruption are twin evil that Nigeria journalists like their compatriots lacks the strength to resist. The seduction of journalists through brown envelopes has long been a problem which Nigeria journalists have justified by their low pay. Although, those who give it call it an ordinary gift. But it is capable of influencing the objectivity and balance of the journalist, thus, the reports becomes less credible and sometimes jam-packed with public relation facts, giving unmerited publicity to a story. This action is not only unethical but criminal. This idea teaches the journalist how to be frugal with truth. FAKERY This is another modern unethical issue facing the media. This is the practice of publishing false story or the fabrication of stories. Fakery, which is manufacturing of story is a capital offence in journalism. 40 NON DISCLOSURE OF SOURCE OF INFORMATION It is the duty of the journalist to protect the source of his information even in the face of threat and intimidation. Several courts of law have upheld the decision. A journalist is not supposed to name his information source. It is abnormal that there is a sealed accord between the journalist and the news source. Numerous principled journalists have been jailed because of their refusal to divulge the sources of their news. However, journalists have seized this opportunity to attribute spurious news to non existing source, this is unprofessional. PLAGIARISM This is the appropriation and putting forth as one’s ideas, language or design of another person without due acknowledgement of the original owner of the work. It is the cancer on the heart of journalism as practiced today in Nigeria. It is simply unacceptable and ultimately destructive; the faker should be punished severely while plagiarizers get a slap on the waist. A journalist who copies another journalist’s work without due acknowledgement has run foul of journalistic ethics. There are hosts of others, like; junkets and gifts which are free trips organize by influential personalities and organizations for journalists to visit 41 hometown and other places of interest. Cheque - book journalism, which is a practice of paying sources for stories. Moonlighting when journalist takes up two full time job appointments with di ferent media organizations. Killing of information is also part of the show that is avoiding publishing information for one gratification or another. This is doing a great harm to the public inalienable right to information.2 4.2 JOURNALISTS AND NIGERIANS Pastor J K D Adeleye revealed that the two sides are not sincere. That is both politicians and Journalists. Our political leaders are not disciplined, they are self centered and the people do not have trust in them. They can be corrupt and desperate. Journalists are not also sincere they dance to the tone of brown envelopes. If there is a measure of discipline in the two parties (the political leaders and the Journalists) we will have the best politics in Nigeria. “Concerning free and fair elections; I don’t see that happening but we can have something better than what we had previously. We appreciate the effort of the INEC Chairman in bringing in machines but machines are not human beings rather it is garbage in garbage out.” The truth is that we need to mature at least to a level. That is standing for what is right. We need to avoid do or die aspirations. We don’t need to be desperate in order to contest election to serve our people. In fact, I can never 42 vote for a desperate aspirant. Desperation means you have a skeleton in your cupboard. Greed is very obvious in Nigeria politics, an average senator in Nigeria is earning more than the president of America. This greed made it difficult for the older ones to vacate the seat for the younger ones to come in. A successful leader must have a successor. But in the case of Nigeria it is the same old faces that continue. Hence the third term Saga of Obasanjo we need to review our electoral law and constitution to take care of this problem. We don’t want people that cannot stand their grounds as our leader.3 Mr. Oluwaseun Joshua Olorunfemi a graduate of Business Administration, Kogi State Polytechnic says Nigeria politics is in jeopardy, politics is not suppose to be a dirty game but Nigeria politicians has made it so. They pursue their selfish interest instead of the interest of the electorates. Journalists who will want to defend the interest of the masses have no choice than to expose the dirty deals of some of these political leaders which will ultimately lead to clash between the two parties. Politicians generally do not like Journalists. They operate cat and rat kind of relationship. This is because they have a different pursuit. But this is not supposed to be. The two are suppose to follow the same line. Serve the people faithfully and with all their hearts. Although journalists have their own problems. Some of the journalists we have today are not honest with the noble profession. Rather they seek their pockets’ interest. So the two parties need to adjust for a better Nigeria.4 43 Dr. R.A. Olaoye said “Journalists are doing a good job, particularly since the first republic. They have been the watch dog of the society, fighting indiscipline. The press has supported EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau. It was in the process of their fight against corruption that some journalist lost their lives. But Journalist should not involve themselves in what they are campaigning against. Politicians should not be bitter against the journalist for a better Nigeria”.5 Alhaji Ibrahim Bashir said, “It is not true that politicians don’t like journalists, in fact the reverse is the case. Most of the papers are own by one politician or the other. In Kwara, Herald is controlled by Bukola Saraki. So the reporters are bias, they want to favour their own people”.6 Kunle Okeowo in his own opinion said Journalism is a good profession, it is for the masses. We are fighting for the people of Nigeria we love them and we care for them. We love our fatherland as well so we cannot tolerate indiscipline from anybody in our politics.7 Dayo Thomas said, “politicians are corrupt therefore they cannot expect the journalist to befriend them, it is impossible.8 Mr. Adeniran said in his own opinion said, “Journalists nawao, I fear them so much because they minor in major and major in minor. What is special in the Pope picking his glasses that Nigeria Journalists made it a headline”. I think they should please change and do better.9 44 “Journalists can do better than been used as errand boys by some politicians or influential people in the society”. They must rise to the challenges ahead of them that is war against political indiscipline in Nigeria, and they will be praised.10 4.3 CONCLUSION The value of the press in the development of the Nigerian nation-state became prominent in the struggle by the founding father of Nigerian nationalism against British colonial rule and imperialism, mildly in the late 1920s and much more forcefully from about 1944. As the struggle intensified and colonial rule inaugurated a process of tactical retreat through negotiation with the emergent yet fragmented political class. The press acquired a front seat and status as the mouthpiece of the anti colonial struggle. In this role, the press and individual journalists experienced all forms of vicissitudes and punishment by the colonial authorities. The origins of the press however, predated the nationalist struggle for independence.11 The overwhelming critical features of the press in its relationship to the unfolding democratic process had emerged as early as the late 1920s. The role of the modern pioneers such as late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe among others was to push forward and entrenched the role of the press as it war against political indiscipline in Nigeria’s nascent interest in period leading to independence the press war against political indiscipline was against 45 the British colonial masters and colonialism. After independence, that enterprise logically shifted to focus away from the perniciousness and arbitrariness of colonial rule to the inadequacies, fractiousness and excesses of the Nigeria political class which had replaced the “British colonial masters” yet administering rather than governing the country with as much arbitrary instruments as the British. The press could not cooperate with the Nigerian governments; rather it carried on with its adversary and irritant focus to government. Incidentally the press became known by a section of the political class for its reportage and advocacy as a vehicle for partisanship and thus acquired the derogatory image of being the “Lagos press”. Accordingly, from its modern inception the press or media has had to contend with the split or simultaneous image as champion of the Nigerian national interest. Newspaper rise or fall according to their utility, value in social consciousness in the polity. 10 The Punch when it came out gained public esteem and acceptance due to the hopes and aspirations it dangled before a forlorn public. It could be recalled that at its inception the Punch declared objectivity and quest for fairness of balance and of “promoting the best interest of Nigeria instead of the parochial interests of any political party”, ethnic community, religious or other interest group”. 12 46 NOTES AND REFERENCES 1. Chimaroke Nnamani “The Press and the Nigeria Project” October 2003 2. Ibid 3. Pastor JKD Adeleye, personal interview, Lagos 4. Mr. O J Olorunfemi Oral interview, Lagos 5. Dr. R A. Olaoye Oral interview, Ilorin 6. Mr. Ibrahim Bashir, Oral interview, Ilorin. 7. Mr. Kunle Okeowo, Oral interview, Ilorin. 8. Mr. Dayo Thomas, Oral interview, Ilorin. 9. Mr. Olaniran Oral interview 10. Mrs. Adediwura 11. Development Policy management network bulletin, “media and accountability” No3 September 2001 pp18-20 12. Professor Sam Oyouvbire “The Media and the Democratic Process in Nigeria” (1) 1999 pp4. 47 BIBLIOGRAPHY PRIMARY SOURCES ORAL S/No. Name of informant Sex Age 1 Abioye Oyetunji M 43 Journalist Place of Interview Lagos 2 Adediwura Bola F 42 Politician Ilorin 04/01/2011 3 Adeleye J K D M 50 Pastor Lagos 09/12/2010 4 Aliyu Oyebola F 45 Politician Ilorin 13/01/2011 5 Bakare Shola F 51 Journalist Lagos 07/12/2010 6 Dayo Thomas M 40 Journalist Abuja 27/10/2010 7 Ibrahim Bashir M 48 Lecturer Ilorin 15/02/2011 8 Okanlawon Semiu M 47 Journalist Lagos 07/12/2010 9 Okeowo Kunle M 50 Journalist Ilorin 18/03/2011 10 Olaoye R A M 57 Lecturer Ilorin 24/03/2011 11 Olaniran M 33 Banker Lagos 08/12/2010 12 Oluwaseun Joshua M 25 Applicant Lagos 05/12/2010 48 Profession Date of Interview 08/12/2010 SECONDARY SOURCES Published Books 1. Ajayi, J.F.A. , Christian Missions in Nigeria 1894- 1891 Longman, London 1965 2. Awolowo O., The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo Cambridge University Press, 1960 2. Awolowo , Oluwale (Chief), Voice of the voiceless 40 Years of Comment in the Nigeria Tribune African Newspaper of Nigeria, Ibadan, 1989 4 Ayodele Longleys, Pan- Africanism and Nationalism inWest Africa 1900- 1945: Oxford Press, London 5 Azikiwe N, My Odyssey (An Autobiography C. Hurst and Co. London, 1970 6. Coker I. H., Landmark of the Nigeria Press – An Outline of the Origin and Development of the Newspaper Press in Nigeria 1851 – 1965 Nigerian Printing and Publishing Company, Lagos 1970 7. Cole D. P.Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos. Cambridge University Press, 1957 8. Cuetis Philip et al (ed) African History: Longman, London 1972 9. Curtis P. D. The Atlantic Slave Trade – A Census The University of Wisconsin Press, 1972 49 10. Elias T. O. The Nigerian Legal System Longman, London 1963 11. Euchero M . J. C.Victorian Lagos – Aspects of 19th century, Lagos Life: Macmillan, Lagos 12. 1977 Jakande L. K. west African Annual (ed) Johnwest Publication, Ltd., Lagos 1971 14. Omu F. I. A., Press and Politics in Nigeria 1880 – 1937 Ibadan History series, Ibadan 1978 15. Leo-Spitzer, The Creoless of Sierran Leon: Their response to colonialism 1870- 1945 University of life Press, Ife, Nigeria 1975 16. Obiachere B. I. Studies in Southern Nigeria History (ed) Frank Cass, London, 1982 17. Townsend G.Memoirs of the Rev. H . Townsend Marshall Brothers, London, 1887 18. Udueze P. E. Development of the Newspaper industry in Nigeria: 18591900 (B. A. thesis Unpublished), Ilorin,1988 19. Wickwar W. H. The Struggle for the freedom of press 1819–1832: London 1909 20. Political Educational MKannual, Published by the Directorate for Social Mobilization, Abuja Nigeria 1986 50 ARTICLES AND JOURNALS 1. Ekwele, S. A. “The Nigerian Press in cultural Development: Promises versus performance” Nigeria Magazine No. 141 1982 pp.40- 47 2. Ikoli, E, “The Nigerian Press 1900- 1950” West African Review June 1950 3. Olatunji, D. “126 years of Polity Service” News watch Magazine, 25th Independence Anniversary Edition 4. Olatunji, D. “Press since independence” The Guardian of Sunday, September 30, 1990 pp.A10 -11 5. Omu, F.I. A. “The newspaper press in Southern Nigeria 1800 -1900” Studies in Southern Nigeria History 1982 pp103 -123 6. Omu, F.I.A “The ‘Iwe Irohin’ 1859 -1867” J. H.S. N. No. 1, Vol. IV 1967 pp. 29 -35 7. Shap, G. F. “Nigerian’s First Daily Newspaper” West African Review, XXI, 274, August 1950 pp.920 51 UNPUBLISHED WORKS (THESIS) Emecheta, O.J. “International News Reporting in Nigeria:” A case Study of New Nigerian Newspaper and the “Nigerian mirror”(Unpublished HND Thesis) Institute of Management And Technology, Enugu. June 1984 Omu F. I. A. “The Nigeria Newspaper Press 1859- 1937 Study in Origin, Growth and Influence” Unpublished Ph. D Thesis) University of Ibadan, 1965 Udueze, P. E. “The Development of Newspaper Industry In Nigeria 1859- 1900 (Unpublished B. A. Thesis) University of Ilorin, June 1988. 52 APPENDIX I BACKGROUND HISTORY OF SOME NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS 1. MR. Robert Combell: Born in Kingdom, Jamaica, to an English father and a mother of mixed blood. With this background, Mr. Robert Combell grew up to be a philanthropist and a lover of race freedom which was exemplified in the name he gave to his “THE ANGLO-AFRICAN”. His father was a printer so he learnt the trade from his father and later he established his own printing press in Lagos. Cambell arrived Nigeria in 1858, being impress by the progress and impression of “Iwe Ilorin” in Abeokuta he was promoted to establish his own Newspaper as a purely business venture. He gave everything he has got to Angola-African exemplified in his News reportage of activities of the government and the business community. He was pro-government and got the government’s attention and so was exempted the paying tax, but due to lack of sales, the circulation decreased considerably and the paper eventually folded up in 1865. 2. Reverend Henry Townsend: A missionary by vocation (of the Church Missionary Society) and an English man by nationality, Rev. Townsend arrived Abeokuta via Badagry in 53 1842 on a mission to establish the CMS mission and propagated the word of God. To effect his activities he went into Journalism so to say and in 1859 he became the first person to found and publish a Newspaper, IWE IROHIN, a Yoruba vernacular Newspaper meant to serve the Yoruba Community along and as a means of propagating the word of God. This Newspaper reported on issues like politics of the Yoruba civil wars and commerce. Rev. Townsend also establish also established a printing School to aid the Newspaper industry. Following the misunderstanding between the Natives and the Europeans and their subsequent involvement in the Yoruba civil war, all the Europeans in that area were ordered out of Abeokuta, thus Townsend ran out of newsprint venture and eventually folded up. Despite these shortcomings, his paper still maintained credibility. Townsend could rightly be called the father of newspaper industry in Nigeria. 3. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe: Born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru in Niger State. He attended CMS central School, Onitsha, Hope Waddell Training institute, Calabar for his primary and post–primary training and later Harvard University, Washington DC, Loncoln university, pennysylvannia and Columbia university from where he got his first and second degree in political science. A nationalist, politician, he was one of the people in the forefront of the fight for independence for Nigeria and Africa as a whole Zik was a renowned 54 Journalist of high repute and the founder of National congress of Nigeria and Cameroon which later became known as National congress of Nigeria citizens. He was also the founder and Editor in- Chief of the “African morning post” in Accra, 1934- 1937 and the popular “West African pilot”, Lagos 1937. He also founded other newspaper like “Eastern Nigeria outlook” and “Guardian”. He used newspaper to propagate the ideas of pan- Africanism, equal right and independence for the Africans. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first indigenous Governor- General and president of Nigeria in 1960. 4. Chief Obafemi Awolowo: Chief Obafemi Awolowo was born 16th march, 1909 in Ikenne, Ijebu- Remo, in Western Nigeria. He attended saviors Anglican school, Ikenne, Wesleyan school, Ikenne. Awolowo was a teacher, politician, a lawyer and a Journalist. He studied law in London. In 1934, he worked as a journalist with daily Times of Nigeria as a reporter for a short period and he managed a business in cocoa trading for a short period also. As a politician, he found the Action Group as an opposition political party both at Federal and regional Houses of Assembly. Awolowo Founded “The Tribune” newspaper in 1949 which was published by African Newspaper Publishing Limited, Ibadan. 55
