ETHNICITY today is a factor that cannot be jettisoned for any reason in the world; due to the significant prowess that is accorded to it; coupled with advantages like identification, unity, uniformity, beliefs, cultural heritage, norms and values inter alia. All over the world, majority will agree that ethnicity is a form of characteristics of a group of people who identify with one another, especially on the basis of national, cultural or religious groups. Now that succinct explanation and analysis has been given to ‘ethnicity’ as a term, then what is the function of the media in this regard.
Overtime, Nigeria has suffered from a plethora of issues that are related with ethnicity, ranging from social, economic, political and religious interest. This is simply because there has been little or no understanding among the various ethnic groups that exist. Owing to this fact, it is believed that the major ethnic groups should not only be the mouthpiece and the opinion leaders of the country, but to also hold political positions due to their population advantage over the minority groups, thus paving way for ethnic interest and reliance on mediocre and the policy of the so-called Federal character. The major ethnic groups in the country are the Ibos, Hausas and the Yorubas.
Due to the tussle that has existed for power prior to independence, it was Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Sir Ahmadu Bello factions that were on the front burner in the scramble for leadership and supremacy. This immediately gave an opportunity for some people to crusade in respect of sentiments and for ethnic rivalry to rear its ugly head. This was the reason why Nnamdi Azikiwe through his National Council for Nigerians and Cameroons that later became National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and his newspaper; the West African Pilot projected the interest of the Ibos (Easterners), Obafemi ‘Awo’ as he was popularly called through his political party Action Group (AG) and the Tribune Newspaper projected the interest of the Yourubas (Westerners). The Northerners were not left out of this circle, despite that, they never had a significant newspaper as at then, apart from the old GaskiyyaTafiKwabo, they had Sir Ahmadu Bello who later became the Premier of the North and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who later became the first Prime Minister of the country as their two main representatives and the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) which was founded by Mallam Aminu Kano as their political party. This period marked another turning point in the journalism of the country, because instead of the media to be responsible to the society in general as it ought to be, the media as against the normalcy of unity, patriotism and development campaigned for their proprietors and their regions.
The adage “You ought to first of all know that you are a Nigerian before your immediate tribe.” Be you an Ibo, Etunno, Etsako man or whatever tribe you belong to, the primary concern should be about the country in general. It is highly evident in respect of our politics, that from the onset till date, that contesting for political positions, permutations and running mates are along ethnic lines in the disguise of Federal character.
Starting from 1999 till date, the elections in Nigeria have been primarily on the lines of ethnicity. In 1999, it was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was of the South-West (Ogun State) that teamed up against Atiku Abubakar (Adamawa State) under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of the North-East to contest for the 1999 election against Chief Olu Falae (Ondo-State) and Umar Shinkafi (Zamfara State) of South-West and North-West respectively. In the 2003 election, the two main contenders were the same Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar still under the platform of PDP as against General Muhammadu Buhari (Katsina-State) of the North-West as the President and the Late Chuba Okadigbo of the South-East as the running mate. In 2007, it was Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’adua (Katsina-State) of the North-West and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (Bayelsa-State) of the South-South under the platform of PDP. In 2011, it was similar with that of the 2007 elections, but the main political parties were the PDP and the CPC. The representative for the PDP was the same Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Arch. Namadi Sambo (Kaduna-State) of the North-Central contesting against General Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Bakare (Ogun-State) of the South-West under the platform of the CPC. Lastly, the recently concluded election of 2015 was between the same Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, the then incumbent and Arch. Namadi Sambo against General Muhammadu Buhari again, and Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (Lagos-State) of the South-West who eventually won the elections.
It is quite obvious from the just concluded general elections, that aside terrorism, another big problem that has been bedeviling Nigeria over the years is not even religion, but the problem of ethnicity. The permutation of the team Buhari/Osinbago of the North/West got the better of the Jonathan/Sambo of the South/North in respect of the 2015 elections only on the grounds of population. The outcome of the election clearly explains that it is the ethnic with the right permutations and the agreement that get the nod of Nigerians during elections. Even during the 2011 elections, the Goodluck/Sambo in respect of the South/North that defeated the team Buhari/Bakare of the North/West.
From the analysis and permutations as elucidated above, don’t you think it has given room for mere mediocre and opportunists to contest and even hold paramount political positions? Critically, the six geo-political zones of Nigeria is an ethnic encouragement in the first place, so are some associations in Nigeria like the different Governors forum, as it concerns geographical locations. As a result of the different for a, candidates that are not within the ambit of geographical permutations and the interest of Elder statesmen do not get a chance, even when it is deserved
In essence, this is where the importance of the media plays up again. The media should constantly crusade for good leadership thereby creating the same level of playing field for all candidates and a relative coverage. They should however continue to stress the importance of secularism of the entire nation. The most appreciable step by the media is in respect of the urban and the rural pattern should be streamlined, if a development overhaul must be achieved
The print media, through its pattern of operation is more of the South than the North, this has created a gap between the reportage in the North and the South newspapers like the ‘Punch, Tribune, The Nations, Thisday, Vanguard, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER
The Guardian, The Sun etc are all driven by the South factor either by ownership influence or the philosophy behind the newspaper. Even in the broadcast media, the three leading television stations in the country are affiliated to the South much more than the North; Channels Television, African Independent Television (AlT) and Silverbird respectively.
For quite a number of months now, there has been a constant clamour by Nigerians for the obedience of Federal character, most especially, due to the fact that the President made it clear that his administration will be more focused on technocrats rather than his party’s interest. This means, apart from the service chiefs that have been appointed so far, that the President will also go ahead and produce Ministerial list irrespective of the constitutional order that says the President must appoint at least a Minister from each state of the federation. If our country must get better, it should be steered from mediocrity, to capacity building.
If eventually we decide to drop our ethnic affiliation and sentiments, and deem the power of the intellect and capacity anchored on competence excellence above every other reason, then we could be hopeful that the country is heading towards maximum success. And if peradventure, the appointed persons do not get to live up to expectations, then we can start calling for their heads. Irrespective of ethnicity, every Nigerian deserves to contribute his or her own quota to the development and the general balance of the country And in a situation whereby we do not want to eliminate the thoughts of prejudice and sectionalism, then there is a possibility that the law of ability and impeccability will be discarded.
Nigeria is within the realm of an emerging democratic society, and if the purpose of democracy must be achieved, then willy nilly of the political gladiators and traditional rulers interest, and that of must match competence will results, and if this is done, the achievements of result will only be a question of time. Thus if the Federal character must be obeyed, it should be on the grounds of productivity and not party allegiance. Who knows, maybe the past administration would have been more popular if those measures where to be in place.
As against ethnicity, if wrongs must be set aright, the media must frown against ethnicity, and build a perception for every citizen of the country, that the country is our collective responsibility, thus, if we must attain optimum development, we must all jealously direct our affairs ourselves, and when a problem persists, we must proffer and solicit for solutions inwardly.
Shamsudeen Aliu (200L)
Mass Communication-Uniben.
