Foremost professor of journalism, Prof Lai Oso, has noted that the future of journalism and democracy in Nigeria are currently under threat owing to the “authoritarian style of leadership” of President Muhammadu Buhari led-government.
Oso, a professor of Mass Communication at the Lagos State University (LASU) stated this in Abeokuta at a lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planner (NITP) in honour of a veteran the former Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Alhaji Waheed Kadiri.
The lecture which us in its 7th edition had the theme: “The Future Of Journalism And Democracy in Nigeria.”
Oso also noted that policies were undertaken by the Federal Government, the Nigerian mass media is under state-imposed siege, adding that such “draconian anti-press freedom” policies were aimed at gaging the media.
The communication scholar described the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as “a willing tool” in the hands of the government, which is being used to impose “fines and other forms of sanctions on privately-owned broadcasting stations as if it was created to take private broadcasting out of business.”
While berating the government for the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, Oso also added that technology, commercialisation and ownership influence have adversely affected the content and influence of the media.
“It appears the Nigerian mass media is under state-imposed siege. In order to capture the media and bend reality in the direction of its preferred worldview interests and hegemony, the government is deploying the instruments of the state against the media abs journalists.
“The government seems to have gone back to books of authoritarian press control and national interest, the Buhari administration and the National Assembly have tried on many occasions to enact legislations to muzzle freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
“The suspension of Twitter is part of this draconian anti-press freedom policy of the administration,” Oso said.
Speaking on the event, Kadiri said, the lecture was organised to set agenda for development in the society and to put the government on its toes, urging all to be involved in ensuring Nigeria gets on the right track.
“We are all in this together, the people are also part of the governance. We should also claim the right to be part of our governance, we should not always push things to the people in government alone,” he said.
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