Posted by By SAMUEL OLATUNJI on
The Nigerian press has been warned to brace up for its next battle, but this time around the battle may not be against government or any other familiar foes of the fourth estate of the realm. The next foe would be none other than the press itself.
The Nigerian press has been warned to brace up for its next battle, but this time around the battle may not be against government or any other familiar foes of the fourth estate of the realm. The next foe would be none other than the press itself.
The press m ay soon turn against itself like the proverbial divided house . This warning was sounded by the Special Adviser, Media, Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Lasisi Olagunju.
Olagunju made this assertion in Ibadan when he was given an award for outstanding service by NUJ during the week.
Olagunju who was one of the editors at Tribune before he was appointed by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola observed that ownership of newspapers in Nigeria is creating a situation where newspaper would begin to take on the shapes and forms of political parties. He said this in reference to latest developments where politicians are fast taking over the newspaper publishing industry in Nigeria.
In his words, ‘You know a Press Secretary serves two masters- the government and the media and with this background, I believe it will not be out of place for one who has had the benefit of seeing both sides of the divide to sound a bell of warning that the press should be ready for the next battle.
You all know that the press has fought and demystified all known institutions of governance in this country. We have exposed the under belly of the Executive and the Legislature. We are currently waging a tricky battle against the judiciary. Rightly or wrongly, we say our goal is to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of our countrymen and women.