Sultan of Sokoto and Co-chair Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC) His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has said the resurgence of insecurity in the country is very alarming, especially as bandits were practically on holidays during political campaigns and the 2023 general elections.
He stated this Thursday in Abuja during the 2nd Quarterly meeting of NIREC, with the theme: “Media and Effective Leadership for Nation- building.”
He said throughout the campaigns and elections, nothing was heard about bandits and killings, but that, suddenly after the 2023 general elections, scores of people were killed in Plateau, Niger and other places, which he said, should be a matter of concern to the federal government.
Abubakar lamented the ongoing crisis in Sudan, saying the media has unwittingly destroyed many countries because of negative reporting.
He said: “We give thanks to Almighty Allah for being able to attend this second quarter meeting in Abuja. We are grateful for the accomplishments of NIREC under the good office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, especially as we are about entering a new government.
“The role of the media is very important. We are all aware of what transpired in the 2023 elections and the role the media played, positively and negatively. We need to listen to the leaders of these media groups talk to us on what role they want the media to play in the next dispensation.
That is why we picked the theme; ‘media and effective leadership for nation building; and I think it is very apt because, across the world, we have seen how media destroyed countries. Cast your mind back historically to what happened some years back in some countries. See what is happening now in Sudan, which is very unfortunate.
“The resurgence of insecurity in the country is very alarming. Throughout the campaigns and elections, nothing was heard about bandits and killings. However, suddenly after the elections, scores of people were killed in Plateau, Niger and other places. Why this resurgence? Definitely, this resurgence is not religious. Since a new government is coming in, we are sure we can engage the government to hit the ground running in bringing solutions to these problems.
“But we cannot continue that way, because when bandits just go into people’s communities, kill them and burn their houses and nothing is done, then when the deed is done, the security agencies will go there to do what? To look at the ashes that are being burnt? People were killed in Anambra State, the bodies and the vehicles were burnt. Why that wickedness of burning and killing people indiscriminately? Why? We are ready to engage the government on our fears and how to tackle the growing insecurity.”
Media can do more – Mustapha
Also speaking, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha said the media, as an integral component and watchdog of every democratic society, is saddled with the crucial responsibility making credible and dependable information available to both the led and their leaders.
“The media also serves as a mirror through which every government appraises its performance with the view to take the right decision towards quality leadership and good governance among other things. I want to thank the media for their unflinching support over the years in ensuring the growth and development of our democracy and to encourage that more should still be done,” he said.
Media critical stakeholders – CAN president
On his part, President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, who is co-chair of NIREC, said there was need to foster a better working relationship between the media and those in leadership in the interest of Nigeria.
He said: “We love Nigeria and that is why we always reach out to all sectors in our work towards peaceful coexistence. Nation Building could be seen as a process that involves people who work together to give a sense of community and a common identity.
“The media can help to enrich the conversation of leaders by providing, amongst others, well investigated and well researched stories that will improve the religious literacy of leaders. It is my hope that our interactions with media practitioners here will deepen the collaboration of the media and those in leadership to produce a synergy that will drive effective nation building.”
He called on all media practitioners to continue to see their job as a calling instead of a profession that guarantees quick access to riches and fame.
Religion, ethnicity weaponised – NIREC
Also, Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Professor Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, said the media was being misused to transmit tragic messages to the public as some journalists and social media bloggers heat up the polity with different fake, disturbing and alarming news.
He said: “In most elections in Nigeria, some citizens suffer from election fever. The hunger, greed and poverty of many are revealed. Some people mortgage their callings and dignity for the highest bidder who can put food on their table.
“Religion and ethnicity are weaponised to the extent that some accidental pastors and imams turn the houses of worship into campaign rallies. Some religious fanatics behave as if the elections are between Christianity and Islam. Some go as far as releasing political vision and fake prophesies. Ethnicity is weaponized to divide the people in a nation that is striving for unity. Yes, the people that say: “where tongue and tribe may differ, in unity we stand” according to the old national anthem.
“Unfortunately, the media is used to transmit these tragic messages to the public. Some journalists and social media bloggers heat up the polity with different fake, disturbing and alarming news. Reactions and counter-reactions on state and national issues are subjectively reported in the form of media cross-fire. All these anomalies can cause religious, ethnic and political conflicts.”
Gagged media recipe for disaster- Okino
In her paper; “Media and Effective Leadership for Nation Building: A Focus on Nigeria,” Chairman Editorial Board Blueprint Newspapers, Zainab Suleiman Okino said “a restricted or gagged press is a recipe for disaster for the citizens, because leadership will be at liberty to do and undo without anybody questioning their actions/drawing their attention to their wrong doings, actions and inactions, Governance will be at the whims and caprices of their emotions or self-interest.”
She said: “Globally, the media has been known to play vital roles in nation-building. This is because the media serves as a watchdog, ensuring that leaders are held accountable for their actions. Through investigative journalism, the media exposes corruption, abuse of power, and other forms of malfeasance.
“Additionally, the media serves as a platform for public discourse, allowing citizens to express their opinions on matters affecting their lives. This creates an avenue for criticism, feedback, and evaluation of government policies and actions.
“The media is still grappling with several challenges that affect its effectiveness in promoting democracy, good governance, unity and national cohesion. Some of these challenges are self-inflicted, while others are beyond its control. The media has not been able to build a national consensus that could engender patriotic fervour in the citizenry. Instead, it sometimes promotes contentious issues that tear us further apart. And for some, their allegiance is first to their primordial group before anything else.
“The Nigeria media sometimes report events from the perspectives of religion, ethnic leaning and political affiliations. The media should shed this toga of bias. This biased reportage of events can at best inflame passion and encourage hate toward one another. It is a potent and destructive instrument in the conflict-ridden country we live in, where everyone identifies first as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Christians or Muslim before thinking himself a Nigerian. This is wrong and has to stop.
“The media plays a crucial role in promoting effective leadership and nation-building in Nigeria. The media has a rich history of promoting democracy and good governance in the country. However, the media is still grappling with several challenges that affect its effectiveness in promoting transparency and accountability. The government and media organisations need to work together to address these challenges and create an enabling environment for the media to thrive. By working together, we can build a stronger, more transparent and prosperous nation.”
(Blueprints)
