Print media and the Etteh saga
The Patricia Etteh
episode has come
and gone earning the Nigerian print media a big kudo. The print media, once again, lived up to its responsibility as the watchdog of the society. Also, the Integrity Group in the House of Representatives stood its ground, in the face of intimidation by the Peoples Democratic Party. Members of the Group identified what was wrong and shunned all threats to right the wrongs.
While the Integrity Group was doing its own thing in the House, the various print media were informing the public on the goings- on in the House on a daily basis. They also felt the pulse of the men and women on the streets at the same time. People like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Bishop John Onaiyekan, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and many other decent Nigerians and organisations reacted to the issue and joined other well meaning Nigerians to advise the former Speaker to step aside for the matter to be properly investigated. However, she was adamant and refused to listen to the clarion call.
Most newspapers reported the events as they occurred from day one, that is, 5/6/07 when the former Speaker was elected to 30/10/07 when she was disgraced out of office.
Etteh has learnt her lesson, never to trust too much in bureaucracy. She now knows that while ability can get one to a position, it is only character that can keep one in that position.
There was no one in PDP who could have saved her the post under the eagle eyes of the Nigerian print media . PDP chieftains withdrew their support for her at the eleventh hour, allowing her to wallow in loneliness . It was another evidence of how the pen can be mightier than the sword.
The media was most impartial in their reports. Even Etteh who alleged that journalists do not like her did not carpet them for falsehood in their reporting. I salute all the print media that had the courage to expose Etteh and some dishonourable members of the House who engaged in public wrestling during the period. We read all these in our breakfast papers, courtesy of our print media. Unfortunately, the NTA fell short of public expectation for as long as the imbroglio in the House lasted. Its report on the unfavourable and historic event was very sketchy. NTA should be reminded that it was established with public funds and it is principally accountable to the public.
Nigerians who depended on NTA for full the report of what happened both outside and inside the otherwise hallowed chamber of the House on Ettehgate would have missed a lot.
While appreciating the magnitude of the role of the Integrity Group and the media on the historic Ettehgate episode, one needs to remind PDP that the era of “lording” it on lawmakers is over. Those in the House of Representatives and the Senate must, from now put on, put on the armour of resistance and stand by whatever they individually or collectively think is good for the country.
- Chief R.A. Ibitomi,
P.O Box 882,
Ilorin.
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