NIGERIA ACTING HIS MASTERS VOICE!!!

 

(HIS MASTERS VOICE)

Nigerian Media is being misled

By Ayuba Mohammed

The APC gets the best media coverage in Nigeria today and they determine the agenda for the nation's politically motivated media. This is an unfortunate trend by any standard.

Today, it is extremely difficult to hear the government's viewpoint in any of the private media houses. The views perpetually thrust on Nigerians are those of the opposition.

The implication being that the agenda before the ordinary Nigerians is that the Federal Government is doing nothing and the President knows nothing. These media practitioners have been fed this line of thought repeatedly, that they appear to believe same.

Believing the opposition obviously false propaganda has led to a situation where there is no more balanced reports anywhere in Nigeria.

One example will suffice. The reportage of the on-going Rivers political crisis. Any careful observer will notice that the media has been compromised. Most electronic and print media have their headquarters in Lagos, but they prefer to fly to Port Harcourt to report press releases and tapes released by Amaechi.

They however, ignore the festering and deadly APC conflict in Ogun State. In that neighbouring state, the governor is the aggressor, using thugs to harass serving senators and House of Representatives members. These Federal Lawmakers have written complaint letters to no avail, while policemen and political opponents have been injured. Sadly, Ogun is a no go area for the Nigerian media because it is controlled by APC and the APC controls the media.

The orderly of a serving Senator was shot while defending his boss, but it received no attention. A TV station lied that Senator Abe was shot at close range with a rubber bullet. When they noticed the futility of that report, the same APC TV changed the tone of their propaganda.

All electronic and print media worth their salt have written editorials and commentaries on Rivers State, but the appear to lack the intellectual composure to write on the evil being perpetrated by APC in Ogun State.

Their benefactor, the APC has issued a worthless propaganda laden threat against national interest, basing same on the media hyped Rivers crisis. As usual, it will take them time to find what to write in terms of editorials. However, those of us who are pro-Nigeria are happy that Nigerians including APC members have risen in unison to flay the power hungry propaganda tool.

The Nigerian media must realise that any reportage that indicates that a man does no wrong is utterly wrong ab initio. The APC, according to the Nigerian media is 'omni-right'. This is most unfortunate.

I close with this poser. Amaechi over the weeks refused to apply for Police permit to hold rallies. When eventually, he was granted the permit, he used the opportunity to issue threats on the use of machine guns by his supporters and also rained insults on President Jonathan. As expected his friends in the media celebrated him.

At least, another war monger, el-Rufai who hid all through the weekend before inviting Amaechi and Ngige to escort him to the State Security Service has realized that the gentle strides of a Tiger cannot be mistaken for cowardice.

The media should understand its role in a democracy. It is here to provide a platform for the majority and the minority. Under no circumstance should the media assume the role of the mouthpiece of a corruptly rich and vocal opposition.
The media must rise to save what is left of its battered image.

-Ayuba Mohammed is President, Northern Nigeria Democratic Coalition, Abuja.
Email; mayuba802@gmail.com