Nigerian press still gagged – Don
A University don on Thursday said the Nigerian Press was still gagged and censored 25 years after the World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
Professor of Media Arts/Communication, University of Benin, Prof. Marcel Okhakhu made the assertion while delivering a lecture to mark the 2018 World Press Freedom Day which was organised by Edo state Council of the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ).
In his lecture titled: “Keeping power in check: The role of the Media and rule of law”, underscored the role of the Media and charged Media practitioners to do their job as clean as possible irrespective of harassment and intimidation.
Prof. Okhakhu who transverse the historical perspective and contemporary issues of the Media, charged Journalists in their reportage to always distil fake news seeping through the sewage of social media by promoters of ‘Citizen journalism’ which he said do the job of Journalists without the requisite qualifications and training.
The University don, challenged the Media should put the interest of the public ahead of their personal interest and desire of feudal leaders in government and autocratic authorities who often hide the facts from about their activities from the spotlight.
According to him, “If since 1735 in the United States of America (USA) till 2018, the press is still gagged, it means we have problems in our hands that require solution.
“What the government puts out, is not only scant, but, heavy load of what is not. Many of us write report because there is something in it, not because there is something for the public to benefit.
He noted that Journalists have curtailed the freedom of the Press” by engaging in self – censorship, we distort the facts especially during election coverage.
The former Chairman of Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ) in the defunct Bendel state, Comrade Dele Ailemen and Veteran Journalist, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, recalled the geriatrics among the present the ruling class in attempt to muzzle Press freedom.
Recall that May 3rd every year, is a Day to Celebrate the Fundamental Principles of Press Freedom, to evaluate press Freedom around the World, to defend the Media from attacks on their Independence and to pay tributes to Journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession or in the line of duty.
Our Correspondent reports that the Managing Director/CEO, AAU Printing Press, Chief Fatai Aliu and the Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli (AAU), Prof. Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Aigbokhaevbholo Oziegbe were among the NUJ award recipients.
