as he speaks at News Digest presentation
By NETA NWOSU
L-R: Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, Governor, Imo State, Guest Lecturer at the book presentation and Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Chairman, CFAO Nigeria also Chairman of the occasion
‘Do not reduce yourselves to purchasable commodities’ ‘Today it has become popular to dismiss Nigeria as a failed state.’ ‘The media are copiously used to propagate this self-immolation of our country’
‘Americans are also critical of their leaders, but they will never ridicule America.’
‘The least distortion of news can threaten our corporate existence as a nation’
It was Friday, November 19, 2009. Notable Nigerians, a huge number of them, top Media Executives gathered at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel to witness the public presentation of yet another magazine, News Digest International and listen to its inaugural lecture on a subject that is most crucial to the Nigerian populace: “Niger Delta Amnesty: Quick Fix or Silver Bullet?” The Guest Speaker was His Excellency, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, Governor, Imo State.
Prefix to presenting the lecture Dr. Ohakim took up the Nigeria media on critical issues that pertain to the image of the country while reviewing the News Digest International magazine. The Imo state Governor brought to the fore his vast knowledge of marketing communications and the media in particular.
According to him, the emergence of a new publication in the crowded Nigerian newspaper and magazine market is usually an occasion to examine its ability to compete and survive in the market. The marketer now turned Governor asked; “What gap in the market is News Digest International magazine out to fill?” He analyzed the positioning of the magazine thus; “It seems to me that the Publishers have settled for a niche, as it is patterned after the world renowned Readers Digest”.
Calling on the Publishers to keep to the tenets and codes of the conduct of journalism, he advised them to place public interest above private agenda and engage in responsible journalism that ensures the publication of true, factual and balanced articles. He went to speak to the Reporters of News Digest International.
“Those who report for the magazine must not reduce themselves to purchasable commodities or people who easily compromise their ethics, conscience and dignity for a mess of pottage. The readers of News Digest deserve respect, their intelligence must not be insulted as we have witnessed in recent times. The readers must be able to rely on the magazine as a journal of record, not a rumour mongering junk.”
Lamenting over the way the media has been copiously used to propagate self-immolation of its own nation, he gave instances of the direct consequences of deliberate bad press on constituted authorities in Britain and American.
He affirmed that British media criticize their political leaders “Yes”, Dr. Ohakim emphasized. But he stressed “When you ridicule the Queen, the symbol of the very essence of the United Kingdom, they show you that you have stepped out of the line. He related the American example. “Americans are also critical of their leaders, but they will never ridicule America.
Those of you who watch Fox News will agree that the network has been unflattering of President Barrack Obama right from the campaign period. But, when two months ago, Glenn Beck, in his show called Obama a “racist”, Americans were incensed. They regarded such attack unacceptable. All the advertisers pulled their adverts off Glenn Beck’s show.”
Governor Ohakim observed that the reverse is the case in Nigeria. He said that today, it has become popular to dismiss Nigeria as a failed state and that the media are the front line troops in this act.
He arrogated the view of Nigeria as a failed state to the opinion of frustrated, tiny, aging political elite, whose past activities messed up the country. He said the view of Nigeria as a failed state is an insult to other Nigerians toiling away everyday and holding the nation’s flag high. He listed them, “Our private sector entrepreneurs, our scholars, our artistes, our Golden Eaglets and Super Eagles!”
The obviously infuriated Ohakim fired, “It is an insult to sweepingly write these good Nigerians off as failed. It will be necessary to remind all those who are busy ridiculing this nation that there are also Nigerians out there – our armed forces-men and women, who have placed their lives on the line to protect us, I think their sacrifices deserve to be appreciated and respected”.
He recalled a recent interview, when a top Nigerian model, Miss Isioma Oyebo, who once lived in South Africa, was asked why she returned home. He quoted her reply, “Life is still fun in Nigeria. Life is even better here because nobody takes 30 percent out of your money here and I have a name here.”
