by Oladimeji Abitogun
I understand the disappointment of some of the readers who have faithfully committed to following this column since it first came on about eight years ago. This column, life with Oladimeji Abitogun, was at its debut, hosted by far away Diaspora newspaper, African Post. We chose the deliberate path of not only commenting on contemporary issues and their under-currents, putting history on the records as they unfold before our very eyes, burrowing from the wisdom and mastery of prose craftsmanship from some of the best icons of journalism, we purposely deployed humor, satire and lucid styles to make our points in an unambiguous way. It is a pattern we have always loved to sustain until our regularity got punctuated by the challenges of having to wear two hats of the publisher and editor-in-chief of this news website. The position of the publisher offers the challenge of working out the business details, obligations and survival of our lofty enterprise without destroying our objectivity and uniqueness.
To keep the funds coming and taking care of the business on personnel and tools and means is a task that no serious enterprise can allow to flag or fail. So whenever it becomes very crucial to attend to the task of getting things going with the other hat, that of an editor suffers a little. And yet, that is the most important duty, to be the personification of journalistic dedication and purity in the circumstances and platform from which we operate as a small media post. So when the reader gets angry that his daily or weekly addictive dose of informed commentary has not come out in the last few months, one is bound to do something; step-up, make amends and make sure that the non-lethal flow of informative, educative and entertaining processes do not dry-up from our site. Our un-coerced promise is this, things will improve and we shall do our best to meet the best of expectations.
Now without trying to play down the genuineness of requests from the public that we should operate without interruption, at least at a level better than that of the hapless and helpless Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria, PHCN, one can understand that our admirers do not want us to operate like jackasses or court mediocre in the world. We cannot continue to invent and recycle lies about inexcusable non-performance and highest form of irresponsibility that would make a spec of an organization like PHCN to throw over a hundred and fifty million people into Hades, where everyone now enjoys endless darkness and grinding of teeth. No, sharpedgenews.com is not like PHCN, which changed name from National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) which Nigerians dubbed Never Expect Power Anymore. The problem of NEPA or its successor PHCN is not in the name it chooses to go by. It is in the content of its character as a dome of gloom, doom corruption and ineptitude. No, we are not PHCN, whose patriotism and honor is in short supply, hence the country is on its knees, businesses and private lives destroyed because nobody has a clue what to do to give perpetual light around the giant”. No we are not like then and that is why we would not spread darkness, or by its other form, ignorance. We shall continue to shine the light in terms of qualitative, informative, educative, and entertaining news.
So when people want to see us shine and perform, I look for the same kind of hunger and desire for excellence of the media, I wonder why those who lead the world fear and hide from journalists. By way of contra-distinction, if countries that are classified as developed feel good about the expectations of the media as a sacred institution that keeps freedom alive, that asks questions so that the condition can produce the best in terms of civil and public conduct and make leaders feel the shameful consequences of abdication and responsibility, can same be said of leaders in Nigeria and its other African satellite states?
This week in my room at the PW Marriot Hotel in Washington DC, just about two blocks away from the White House, I was forced to think deeply about this particular issue. On Thursday April 26 and the day that followed, we had made our presence felt around the Nigeria Petroleum Resources Minister, Ms. Dezeani Allison-Madueke, who was attending the centennial anniversary of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science at Howard University, Washington DC. Now Howard has a reputation for being the best black historic college in the United States. It has produced statesmen and accomplished professionals in all fields of human endeavor and Madam Minister can be classified among such. But what was visibly demonstrated throughout the event was a repeated pattern of treating the critical section of the media as a piece of dirt. Essentially, because of the mood of Nigerians at home and abroad about the greed and corruption involved in the management and politics of oil subsidies, officials of Howard shielded Denzeani Allison-Madueke from taking questions that would make her give account of her stewardship. But for the intervention of Dr. Levi Ajuonoma, Nigerian journalists were being disrespected while a radio disc jockey had a field day asking the minister public-relations questions that would not enhance good governance and truthful dealings with Nigerians.
The conduct of the Howard University handlers of Madueke was disgusting, so much so that the quality of its impact on African leaders cannot be critically examined. Is Howard is a breeding ground for future despots who would continue the scourge of tormenting the continent and its people? What was so obvious was that in overprotecting the minister, students and members of the public who were at the stage-managed event went back more ignorant because the quest for knowledge and truth that brought all of us found no answers in the first place. At the same moment I was thinking of the assistance given to an African leader to disrespect journalists by Howard University, I thought of the edifying words of President Barack Obama at the Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, where he for the umpteenth time demonstrated that his humanity remains unperturbed by the aura and authority of his place as the most powerful man on planet earth.
In sharp contrast to African leaders who would do everything to harm pressmen and hide facts from being reported, he traded jokes and ate with them and reminded us all that “whether you are a blogger or a broadcaster, whether you take on powerful interests here at home or put yourself in harm’s way overseas, I have the greatest respect and admiration for what you do. I know sometimes you like to give me a hard time — and I certainly like to return the but I never forget that our country depends on you. You help protect our freedom, our democracy, and our way of life.”
I hope African leaders feel exactly the way Obama feels about the place, the strategic role and relevance the journalists.