THE URGENT NEED FOR A COMPETITIVE MEDIA INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA
Yesterday, I read the @StateDept report, saw uncountable angles and smiled.
@OfficialAPCNg-leaned media like @TheNationNews went to press with the #EndSARS angle.
Today, @GazetteNGR is giving us another angle👇
2/ In several threads, I've continued to advocate for a #CompetitiveMediaIndustry in today's Nigeria
As it operates in the U.S., Nigeria, particularly, during the First Republic (1960-1966), had a #CompetitiveMediaIndustry, when the Media leaned towards Political Parties.
3/ Nigeria's First Republic (1960-1966) had newspapers like the West African Pilot which leaned towards Nnamdi Azikiwe's National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC); @nigeriantribune which leaned towards Obafemi Awolowo's Action Group (AG)...
4/ Observing that Zik & Awo are majorly projecting the interests of their zones- East & West, via the West African Pilot & @nigeriantribune, Ahmadu Bello established a newspaper called Gaskiya Tafi Kobo (meaning- Truth is more than money), to project the image of the North.
5/ This period under review, the Tafawa Balewa-led @NigeriaGov, established the Morning Post which was its government ego-tripping machine.
Arguably, Nigeria Press in the First Republic had newspapers that were technically superb in their radical news coverage & rich contents.
6/ Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1846) said: "Left for me to choose between having a government & newspaper, I'll opt for a newspaper."
The world over, the Media act as the Bible & Conscience of every society. Their eternal writings are there to properly guide us.
7/ Without jettisoning the Social Responsibility main obligation of the Media, as peace of the bird (Media) is peace of the tree (Nigeria), Yours Truly, advocates that Nigeria goes back to the First Republic Press leaned towards political ideologies.
Nigerians need varieties.
8/ END- Globally, including the U.S., one of the key major stakeholders to democracy & nation building remains the Media.
I would like to see newspapers like @MobilePunch @GuardianNigeria @vanguardngrnews @THISDAYLIVE @TheNationNews, etc, trail the path of First Republic Press.
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