[OPINION] The Nigerian Media Supports Corruption By Adanu Moses

Nigerian media

The word ‘probe’ has been trending in the media in Nigeria inthe past few weeks. The media is packed with reportages of how the new government will probe this and that. At some point, I began to imagine the Government of Buhari probing how Jonathan married Patience and how much was paid as bride price. Maybe EFCC will have to investigate if he used government money. The way some section of the media has carried the reportage of the various probes that are been verbally instituted against former political office holders is almost making the matter; which is Nigeria’s lifeline to a better future, a fatal joke.

How did we get here?Who got us to this point? How long have we being here?  Where was the media when all the looting they are now reporting were being perpetrated?I thought the media is supposed to be the eyes of the society, how did she not see?

According to popular online source Wikipedia, Freedom of Information Law otherwise called FOI laws allow access by the general public to data held by national governments. They establish a “right-to- know” legal process by which request may be made for government-held information, to receive freely or at a minimal cost, barring standard exceptions. Also variously referred to Open Records.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Signed into law the FOI act on the 28thof May, 2011. In that jubilative mood, FOI expert and author of a book on the Nigeria Freedom of Information Act Temitope Olodo, on Ben TV Channel 184 told viewers that “the passing of the law was a victory for Nigerians home and abroad”

Just like Temitope,I had also anticipated that after the passage of the FOI bill, Nigeria will become a better place with less cases of despicable show of corruption. The media was empowered by that law to hold public servants accountable for their actions. Four years down the line, this is where we find ourselves. Almost every public officer who has served in the last four years is being fingered for one money related corruption case or the other.

Considering all this, some questions come to mind. Does it mean there was no group empowered to blow the cover on corrupt government officials? If they were, where were they when billions developed wings and flew out of governments’ accounts to unknown destinations?

Worrisome is the fact that, the same group of people being fingered and reported for corruption today were once celebrated by the media. They were the titans and saviors of the Nigerian state as it were, the ones with the Midas touch of gold. This approach of celebrated today and a devil tomorrow leave one suspicious of the media. Unlike other parts of the world, our media in Nigeria became part and an appendage of the government. One the pay master and the other danced to the bank. Playing the town crier role. The King said I should tell you that the price petrol will remained at 97 naira despite the fact we told you we now refine petrol locally. Some refineries even performing up to 60%. No questions asked.

We were told that the one with the pen is mightier than the sword or in modern times the gun barrel. But no, that may not be the case from what we witness in Nigeria. The one with the money cuts the shot. He decides what should be said and what should be hidden. Not until now, two sets of people were popular on the air waves and the media generally in Nigeria. They were the TV evangelists and the politicians. Not even the entertainers were as frequent on our screens like the politicians. Journalist became palace attendants, singing the praise of the King.

Corruption we all say is a virus, yes, it is a deadly one, and it has spread very deep within our society. How could we have prevented such a deadly virus with the eyes shot or closed in defiance? Today, we report and accuse past administrations of being corrupt. Woe to him who saw evil and closed his/her eyes.

There is now a new government and the story is gradually changing. Like Bash Amuneni, Nigeria’s master of spoken poetry asked. Will this be the moment we all have being waiting for? I hope, pray and wish it will be. Let the change also include our media becoming the eyes of the common man. Watching closely to see how our common good is being managed.

 

Adanu Moses

Abuja, Nigeria

@AdanuMoses1

[email protected]