New Nigerian Newspapers Online Edition

No educational system can rise above the quality of its teachers and all great people of the world owe their status to the contribution of several teachers along the line. What happens to the branches and leaves when the tress is dying? Meaning: teachers make up of tree; professionals represent the branches and students as the leaves. Teaching what is right and acceptable to culture and development of any society is what makes the teachers successors of the prophets. When Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999, so many attempts to implement anti-people reforms to satisfy the inhuman economic polices were made the best icon to achieve was to frustrate or under fund the educational sector and the teachers who taught: the president, Governors and Chairmen, Professors, Doctors, Nurses, Engineers, Architects, Accountants, Civil Servants, Lawyers, legislators, Journalists, Security Agents, Bankers, Councilors, Farmers, Politicians and so on.

As earlier said “no country can be greater than the foundation of education” in other words the development of a country is determined by the level of its investment in education. Teachers taught us how to read and write ABC. Teachers taught those who designed this arena called Ramat square, this microphone, the tables, the computers, the radio, the TV, phones, the roads, the refineries and vehicles that conveyed us to this venue etc. and of course the chairs we are sitting on. In fact, all the professionals: professors, doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, engineers, journalists, military, men of the state security (sss), Mr. president, the governor, the chief judge, the inspector-general, name any brain involving position and you will wonder why Nigerian government refuses to allocate the minimum UNESCO 26% of its annual budget to education. Then, of what use are first class hospitals without doctors and nurses who speak the local languages and other health workers or schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities without teaching staff? We even after return to democratic rule, they have always been called names for going on strike as a last resort to demand for funding and reasonable package to stop the rot and brain drain all over the sectors. Nigerians have continued to experience a series of hardship resulting from the non-implementation of budget and diversion of funds meant for development at federal, state and local government levels. The process called democracy in Nigeria was designed to further enslave the non inquisitive population through mind bending and outright official deceits by the state owned media or enticing some poorly paid reporters not to tell the hard facts. Today, over 80% of the people of Nigeria live below poverty line despite the abundant resources of the country. Obasanjo led an anti-people government characterized by lawlessness, un-employment, insecurity, poverty inflation, vendetta, corruption and other atrocities people least expected. We should not deceive ourselves on the responsibility of being among the 20 leading economies of the world by 2015 if government and parents continue to insult teachers who are not the successors of the prophets of God. The media that is the best freedom of expression. Let me begin with a quiz as to whether corruption can be fought in a democratic Nigeria without the help of the media. In many opinions, the answer is: it is impossible to success without a responsible media. Moreover, good governance is obtainable if we decide to copy the good aspects of other democracies and nigerianise them based on our religious and cultural beliefs.

A media that works freely in the dissemination of information will benefit everyone be it individual or corporate. Time and again, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission has always spoken in favour of close links between democracies and frees yet a responsible media. Recently some NGOs have been stressing the importance and potential of the media in preserving and strengthening ethic, religious, linguistic diversity and with it democracy. We cannot regard as responsible if the press breaks the basic laws of God or digs into the privacy of individuals such as granting interviews to gay couples or church leaders or even the denial in young Africa democracies to give equal coverage to all parties by the government media. it has to be believed to be working responsibility. The trend in western media today is regarded by many Africans and Europeans alike as U.A government opinions forced down on the psyche of the world.

The media should first of all be responsible and accountable before criticize government. In view of the current threat of the so called viral communication that spreads like a virus wild fire over which you have no control, such as the wonders or terrible things obtained through text message or cyber cafes. Elsewhere, technological innovation and competition have transformed the media in the ways if reaches us. We rightly regard the media as the instrument defining globalization and we also agree that information is power. We similarly accept that a vibrant media is the reflection of vibrant democracy. Can we do all that without enlightenment and appropriate education? I still continue to wonder the so much talked about dividends of democracy by local Government Chairmen when they launch fertilizer sale their schools in bad shape and leaders wretched, yet expect the press to keep quite. It amounts to democratic nonsense if the citizens of an oil rich country like Nigeria cannot enjoy free education as well as highly subsidized food and health security. Suffice it to say that if democracy is anything other than economic interest, then the middle-East States like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should have been under international pressure notwithstanding their large crude oil reserve with their per capita income at per with Europe or North America. On the other hand, democracy boosted the transition of predominantly agricultural countries like Spain , Portugal , Greece , Brazil , South Korea , South Africa and former Soviet Union to being industrialized. When we carefully observe, we will be able to notice that nowadays opinions rather than facts are traced in the cyberspace via the UN organs or NGOs established by the Government of USA and Americans to put tremendous pressure on the target governments of religious countries. They interfere into traditions, customs, ideologies and values..

They do so aggressively, authoritatively and perseveringly in order to promote American interests covertly which was called “acting less blatantly” by Franklin Roosevelt who introduced it during his tenure as American president (1933-45). What emerges here is perhaps a relative freedom, something that is avoided by those who believe in the Bible and the Qur’an. Therefore, all the evils in one name or another are smuggled into Nigeria . They never insist on good education, potable water, good health care or modern farming. Many other revelations may come up if elections are rigged in favour George Bush Party. Most Americans in the Democratic Party came from Africa, Asia and Latin America are cultured and will therefore be out to defeat the rich Masonic Republican Party next November 2008. If the media is consistently on the side of the people, opinion of the few rich sponsors is likely to be defeated especially when it is aided by a cheap and reliable mobile phone text messages sent by listeners all over the continent challenging the excesses of their leaders. Consider the recent defeat of the incumbent presidents in South Africa , Kenya and Zimbabwe . A responsible media promotes economics and human development as it can always hold government responsible on behalf of the people.

Therefore, many Nigerian state governments and serious civil society organizations use the media to create awareness and accelerate development. On the other hand the media and civil society can hold government responsible when the latter does not give priority to infrastructure and provide reasonable wages to forest all brain drains or even encourage the Nigeria professionals to return home. Let us discuss some of them. This sector can any made efficient and accountable if state and federal governments adequately train Nigeria an equip the hospitals with the necessary modern infrastructure and coupled with an excellent pay package for doctors and other health workers. Other necessities include permanent supply of water and electricity, decent patient wards and residential quarters for doctors and nurses as well as highly subsidized drugs within the hospitals. It is equally important the each of the vital equipment should at least have a spare.

The colleges of medicine of Nigerian universities and nursing schools should always test their candidates for behavioural and psychological soundness such as politeness, patience and friendliness vis-à-vis the sick. It implies responsibility to think of satisfying over 9% of the population and sincerely attempting to implement over 95% of the budget as well as allowing the civil society and the media free access to assess all the projects without interference. Historically, Democracy is governed by a constitution in order to guarantee good governance, food, portable water, education, gainful employment, health care, energy, good roads, industrialization, security, freedom, development and management of human and natural resources and above all to restore the dignity and confidence of the Nigerian people by collectively fighting any form of corruption. For this reason, sincere adoption of home grown democracy is needed not Americanized democracy. Let us not forget that in the name freedom of opinion, there are all sorts of practice including what the Europeans quietly globalization as synonymous with Americanization of culture. The human rights resolution of 1948 states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and idea through any media and regardless of frontiers. But let us face the reality. Is it a right or freedom to insist on having a homo-sexual or female clergy in a church or give media coverage at a same-sex marriage ceremony

The state and federal owned media should guarantee a free and responsible media. The state House of Assembly should regulate programmes of NTA to air which are acceptable to the majority of the people. Every journalist’s heart should be for truth. He should have fairness, accuracy and integrity as a code of ethics by his side. When the freedom of information bill is represented and eventually passed, the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) should be alert in preserving the national security, culture, privacy and defamation. The means that government should not back the flow of information of its administration flaws. It is equally okay for media to advertise jobs, contracts and so on, but not to launch political attack on the opposition parties, or civil the society. This cannot be regarded as divided of democracy as some elected officials are fond of saying. The NBC should produce guidelines and allow very responsible non-governmental organs to independently take part in the regulation of the programmes. Journalists and teachers should see themselves as guardians of truth, in other words: watchdogs enormous force for potential good or bad depending on how much it assesses itself vis-à-vis its responsible in government responsible. A responsible and vibrant media is reflection of vibrant democracy, a lead way to rapid economic and human development.

The only panacea for rural-urban drift and high crime reduction is the commitment of government to provide infrastructure for gainful employment and recent living with micro-credit facilities to boost productivity such as implements for dry season farming at the rural level. It is argued that in contemporary Nigeria , there is a general state of endemic corruption where mediocrity has replaced honour and patriotism. Unfortunately, dubious individuals are applauded as public heroes and until recently law enforcement agents waited for 3 months to earn a monthly pay that could hardly feed a cat. Sadly, the principled individuals are, mostly subjected to monkey and political isolation. Thus, the artificial poverty forces the Nigerian electorate to beg or tell lies to feed their families. Apart from the vibrant media and some House of representatives, who dared ask about the misappropriation of NEPA’s 16 billion dollars or the Nigeria National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) missing money under former president Obasanjo, the de facto petroleum resources minister or the funds budgeted for Ajaokuta steel company, railways, roads ports, etc. even the EFCC was forced to look the other way because the then government to lobby, frame, harass or grill. Today, one cannot talk of the traditional fear and respect provided by traditional life as a result of pressure from elders or peer groups. Moreover, many highly placed selfish politicians employ all sorts of means to neutralize their critics. These include abduction assassination and spiritual concoction. Therefore, the civil society organization and the media must never be the lapdog of the criminal minded sacred cows. Nearly two decades of military rule created a cult-culture in Nigeria governance. This can be seen in the very language of official discourse such as deal with, immediate effect, stupid, etc. the main features of militarism exhibited by some civilian governors today are insubordination, subversion of due process, disregard for the constitution, abuse of the budget and disdain for intellectuals. The leadership of Academic staff union of university (ASUU), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Medical and Health Workers Association (NMHWA) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are always intimidated and blackmailed by Government. The teachers of primary and post-primary schools were recently made to suspend the strike and the federal government argues that it only had civil servants on its payroll not teachers and therefore cannot be held responsible for the negligence of state and local governments. Government officials failed to realize that they are where they are today on contribution of special people called teachers. Similarly, many local government chairmen hardly do anything in their constituencies without seeking approval of their sponsors. The chairmen and councilors earn more than 150,000 monthly while their teachers who have been on the job for more than 20 years earn less than 50,000.what kind of relief for debts accumulated through throat cutting (debt) servicing, currently devaluation, population control through mandatory vaccinations and reckless privatization of strategic public property? Now that Nigeria has paid off those debts, will they allow au to have a home based educational with fewer subjects rather than the present confusion called 6-3-3-4 yesterday, 9-3-4 educational system and who knows if are not planning to bring a millennium system with the aim of killing of both formal and Moronji or Sangaya education? We are witnesses to what is happening to the oil sector and the daily dwindling purchasing power of Nigerians with more than 60 billion dollars in foreign reserve and over 200 billion dollars stolen by a few Nigerians and kept in foreign accounts. Problems in all aspects of our life as an emerging Black Economic Power have been skill fully designed by the World Police for implementation by their cronies in Nigerian to precipitate chaos and come into Nigeria in the name of United Nations Mission or possible military base in Borno to do what they failed to do with the Iraqi Oil, give a different definition for democracy and terrorism or even create intra-religious and inter-religious crisis. Moreover, with the collapse in the living and working conditions of the able bodied men and women, a culture of violence emerged out of repressive political and economic policies especially when leaders change the laws in their favour. Today’s average Nigerian believes that the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which was hurriedly dismantled for unconstitutionality as an agency under the Abatcha’s military regime performed much better than the so called democratic government of Obasanjo.

The kind of youths the G-8 wants Nigeria to groom

Greed, selfishness, corruption and injustice on the part of leadership prevented Nigeria from growing, despite her abundant human, natural material resources. In 2004, Nigeria was counted among the 10 poorest countries in terms of human development in the world by the United Nations Human Development indices. HID indicated that countries like Ghana , South Africa , Egypt and Botswana were far ahead of Nigeria (Weekly Trust, July 24-30, 2004 p.9). How do we prevent the over 20 million out of school youths from hawking, disobeying constituted authorities, drug addiction, arm robbery, examination malpractices, rumour mongering, forgery, smuggling, fraud, prostitution, cultism, ringing at elections etc. what do you think of the N800 a hawking girl brings home for goods worth only N200 or even the 60 year-old raping a 7 year old girl? Why do you have to always lock up your car even if you are around? Why are the youths more interested in foreign soccer or foreign news than Nigerian news media? Why do ladies no longer wear expensive necklaces and board taxi cabs? What is responsible for the increasing crime rate across the country? As patriotic intellectuals and Nigerians, we prefer to se Nigeria invite expert hands from china, U.S. Europe, Asia tigers and Iran to favourably compel in the making of vital infrastruction like energy, rail and road construction, communication, refineries, industries etc. with the full participation of Nigerian expertise to teach our people how to do things for ourselves. How can we prevent the rural dwellers from invading the cities when the officials they elected have virtually nothing to show for the millions sent to them but are building personal mansions in the cities and marry women than they hardly handle when they are out of office? Or even the shameful diversion of billions into their personal accounts when over 80% of their people are looking for fertilizer and tractors to farm? So, our problems remain unsolved as long as our leadership remains subservient to foreign interests and continue to implement World Bank/IMF policies not minding how many Nigerians daily die of hunger, malaria, accidents, armed robbery attacks or ritual killings but persistently sponsor the media on the few dollar cases which polio, AIDS or bird flu. Furthermore, some unchecked movies which showcase cult violence and other evil practices have also influenced the activities of the jobless youths. So, immorality coupled with poverty and ignorance breeds a millions of decadent Nigerians who can go as far as to be easily recruited to provide human parts as fuel ritual purposes. Such things happen because can check the devil advocates, except the teachers of morals. It is a fact that Nigerians are enlightened mostly by the foreign based media and a few Nigerian print and electronic media.

Mohammed is of Department of Mass Communication University of Maiduguri