As far as I can remember, the Nigerian news media has always been flushed with editorials and reports on instances of poor leadership, political irresponsibility, graft and fraudulent activities among those in top leadership positions. Even lately, the Press has been insinuating that the presidency, the pinnacle of power in the land, has gone on a long sabbatical holiday.
But should Nigerians even expect a different outcome from a political class that is a product of a flawed process?
Beyond merely reporting what is wrong with our political system, how much input is coming from the Press to ensure the system is working as it should regardless of how the elected got into office?
It doesn’t do anyone much good to just read about the activities and failures of the political class. Rather than being just an information disseminator, the Press should be framing the political and social issues in the country, and it can not do this simply through editorials and news coverage alone.
What the Press needs to do in accordance with its position as Fourth Estate of the realm is to empower its audience by actively challenging the status quo in the polity.
The general mindset of the public has become apathetic – some would rather call this resiliency. No, the Nigerian public is apathetic; let us be real with ourselves. The situation is even further compounded by poverty and fear of reprisal from political class, a combo that can best be described as “disillusionment”.
Yet, the Press can do its disillusioned audience well by confronting the political class and examining their activities. Simply put, the Press needs to assume the posture of a Watch Dog, not a Lap Dog!
Political offices are avenues to make positive changes and calls for the utmost level of accountability. Can the Press make this happen? Absolutely!
Here are some instances where the Press can do more than just passing across news:
The Press is the only apparatus that can speak directly to the people, with its enormous capacity for advocacy and empowerment, it needs to step to the plate promptly, and arouse the political class from its slumber. Failure to do this only means that a time will come when there wouldn’t be any reason to read the newspapers – any fool can predict what the next day headline will be!
It is time the Press rolled up its sleeves and started raking up some mud.