CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The development of Nigerian politics is
interwoven with that of the press. The
early press, notably Townsend’s Iwe Iroyin fun awon oti Egba Yoruba, the
Nigerian first newspaper was used as a political propaganda tool to fight the
colonial administration in Lagos during the struggle for Independence. Akinfeleye,
R.A (1987) reports
that the newspaper was so effective that the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in
England found it necessary to caution Townsend over his “excesses” in
1963.
He further comments that a year later,
governor freeman complained to the home government that Iwe Irohin was
“aggravating problems of foreign policy”.
This explains why the press is viewed as a very powerful weapon in the
hands up both the government and the governed.
It is the seeming efficacy of the media that Akinfeleye,
R.A (1987) writes
that “As an institution, the press has been described variously”. Some people see and perceive it as the “watch
dog of the society”, some describes it as a “mirrow” through which society sees
itself as it is.
In similar vein,
others describe the press as “the unrecognized fourth arm of government”. This later description of the press gave rise
to the tag on the press all over the world as the “fourth estate of the
realin”, thus being accorded the fourth position on the hierarchy of leadership
in a democratic society.
The other arms of government being referred to include the
executive, judiciary and legislature.
As the fourth estate of the realm, press enhances not only the
smooth operation, performance and interactions between the various arms of
government in the service of the people, but also prevents any operation of the
people by these arms of government.
Similarly, the press in performing its “watch dog role”, Edeani
(1993:80) posits that press the press is supposed to keep a watchful eye on
what the government is doing and has the obligation on behalf of the public to
criticize the government whenever it thinks that the government has not
performed in the public interest.
This not withstanding, the pen profession, like any other
profession can also affect a society – negatively or positively. On the positive side, the press (mass-media)
appear to possess unequalled and unparallel capacities and capabilities to
unveil, portray and reflect the society in which it operates.
On the negative aspect, Kenneth Kaunda, a Former Zambian President
explains “given appropriate conditions, the press can cause war or create
peace. It can promote development or
create difficulties in ways of development”.
What the above statement by Kaunda simply means, is that it is
counter productive for any society to create conditions that would provide the
press the opportunity of exhibiting its negative traits since the consequences
are always far-reaching.
Mahatma Ghandi acknowledges this much when he said “the press is
a great power but as an unchained torrent submerges the whole country side and
devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy”.
Okunna (2001:75) supports the press for its roles in politics
when she says the history of the press in many societies shows that journalists
have always been in the forefront of the struggle for freedom. The best journalists, that is, those who
distinguish themselves and stand out among their peers are journalists who
speak for the people/or grant people access to the media
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