Resist Temptation to divide Nigeria, VP Osinbajo tells Media Leaders
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the media to promote civility in reporting contentious national issues and resist the temptation to divide the country, noting that the media must ensure that delicate national matters did not degenerate into chaos.
Osinbajo, who reiterated his belief in Nigeria’s unity, insisted that Nigerians were stronger together and appealed to media leaders to use their platforms in championing nation building.
The vice president made the appeal on Friday during an event at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, tagged, “An Afternoon of Tributes for Departed Media Leaders.”
The event organised by the Nigerian Press Organisation and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria honoured nine Nigerian media icons who died between July 2020 and February 2021.
They were a former Lagos State Governor and pioneer President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; NPAN Life Patron, Mallam Isa Funtua; former Editor, Sunday Times, Chief Gbolabo Ogunsanwo; former General Manager, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Bisi Lawrence, fondly known as Biz Law; and a former Managing Director and Chairman, the News Agency of Nigeria, Mallam Wada Maida.
Others were a former Editor, Daily Express, Mr Eddie Aderinokun; former Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah; former Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mr Ben Egbuna, and former Minister of Information and Culture, Tony Momoh.
Paying tributes to the late media legends in his keynote address, Osinbajo described them as true giants of their craft whose significance in public life loomed larger than their callings.
He said democracy in Nigeria was born of sacrifices made by courageous veteran journalists both living and dead, noting that such selfless service should never be forgotten.
Osinbajo said, “Let me begin by stating how privileged I am to be here at this unique gathering to honour the memories of recently departed leaders in the media. The roll call of these leading lights that have left us is a truly impressive one and it can be said without exaggeration that eternity has claimed a rich harvest. These men were remarkable and outstanding – giants of their craft in every right.
“The Nigerian press has deep roots going back about 150 years. Indeed, the Nigerian press came into existence before Nigeria itself and was instrumental in the birthing of this nation.
“The pantheon of the heroes of free speech as an institution to which our honourees belong is rich.The giants we are celebrating today understood that journalism operates in a social context and cannot be value-neutral. This same cognitive commitment is incumbent upon all media practitioners. We are at a time in our national odyssey in which retailers of discord and merchants of strife are working assiduously against our collective potential as a people.
“Debates over our country’s future will always be intense and passionate but they need not be toxic or polarising. The media can help to promote a climate of civility in which even the most contentious national issues can be discussed in full and frank terms without degenerating into chaos. Let us reject the temptation to fracture our society and choose instead to elevate those constructive elements in our midst that can promote justice, healing and togetherness.”
The vice president maintained that fake news was being peddled on a scale capable of inducing social unrest, saying that individuals and private interests now controlled means of information dissemination that were once the exclusive preserve of corporations and governments.
In his opening remarks, NPAN President, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, said the late journalists impacted many lives and wielded influence in the media, business and politics.
He said their huge impact made them to be thought of in the present and future, rather than in the past.
He stated, “It will be hard to find another Nigerian journalist who has done it all like Lateef Jakande. He was the oldest in the group (of the nine late journalists). I remember him from the early 1990s as a slightly bent old gentleman still publishing ‘Lagos News’ out of his John West offices on Acme Road, Ikeja. Sam Nda-Isiah was the youngest but in 20 years or so as a columnist and publisher, the intensity of his engagement was unparalleled.
“I never met Gbolabo Ogunsanwo but as editor and columnist of the Sunday Times in the 1970’s, he had become the gold standard by which such work is measured. I will say the same of Ben Egbuna as a broadcaster. As a freelance reporter of Voice of Nigeria, I saw his work beyond the famous golden voice.
“Tony Momoh we all know, not only as an able editor but later Minister of Information. He was simply indefatigable. I used to see Bisi Lawrence and Eddie Aderinokun in the company of my old boss, Abidina Coomassie, who published Today’s Newspaper. Ismaila Isa (Funtua) and Wada Maida acted as the seniors and mentors of northern journalists of my generation.”
The President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isa, said at least a day should be dedicated yearly to celebrate media leaders who are still alive.
He said, “The Nigerian Guild of Editors has resolved to celebrate our own when they are still with us. Why shouldn’t we tell the whole world about Uncle Sam, the Publisher of Vanguard on June 13 which is his birthday? Why can’t we gather like this on July 15, to celebrate Aremo Olusegun Osoba?”
In attendance at the event were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Chairman Emeritus, Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Mrs Angela Emuwa, Chairman Leadership Group, Mrs Zainab Nda-Isiah, Publisher, The Guardian Newspapers, Maiden Ibru, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Channels TV, Mr John Momoh, Publisher, ThisDay Newspapers, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, Founder, Zenith Bank, Mr Jim Ovia, Provost, Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, among other dignitaries.
