11th November, 2010
Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare has bemoaned the fate of the Nigerian media. He spoke at celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Lagos Television (LTV) which took place at the Blue Roof Broadcasting Complex of Lagos Television on Alhaji Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, SouthWest Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture titled, “The Role of the Media In Sustaining Democracyâ€, Bakare lamented that in its attempt to fulfill its stated objectives, the Nigerian media has been subjected to all manner of attacks by successive governments in the country.
According to Pastor Bakare, “Whatever the Nigerian Media suffered under the colonial regime paled into insignificance compared to what has happened to it in post-independence Nigeria,†adding that in fulfilling the role of its news function, the interpretation function and the opinion as well as the corollary function of information and entertainment in the post- Independence, the Nigerian Media has been subjected to harassment and assassination of its brightest members without the authorities doing anything to fish out the killers.
Also speaking at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola enjoined the Nigerian media to help protect the nation’s young democracy through accurate reporting.
Governor Fashola noted that the Nigerian Press has the wherewithal to project the image of the country by creating the right impression before the international community.
He said although the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and other types of freedom, none of the freedoms was limitless adding that every freedom spelt out has corresponding duties and has limits.
He admonished the press to always do a thorough investigation on every story before publication, Governor Fashola declared.
“If the freedom of speech, freedom of expression, popularly encapsulated in the idea of a free press, must foster and strengthen democracy, our media must renew its investigative capacity, its research capacity and its analytical capacityâ€.
“This is the only way that it can discharge its primary purpose of informing, educating and enlightening the people. This is the only way that it can separate facts from fiction; this is the only way that it can separate opinion from facts and also from rumour,†the governor said.
Governor Fashola, who said he had to shelve other pressing responsibilities to attend the event, said, “We are here to celebrate the legacy of a vision 30 years after and to honour the torch bearers who sustained that visionâ€, adding that this has been done by presenting awards to former Governors of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Rear Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I will like to say, very humbly but very proudly, that we have continued to sustain the vision of Alhaji Jakande in many respects. As regards to this television station, I say humbly but proudly that we have placed it on satellite TV and we have enriched the programming of the Television Stationâ€, the Governor said pointing out that the programmes were designed to serve as platforms for interactions between the Government and the governed at all levels.
The Governor declared, “Television and the media generally are critical to the fight against poverty because information is not only knowledge, it is also power; and when people are informed through the media such as television, they are better enlightened, they are better educated, they get better informed and they are freed from the shackles of povertyâ€.
Thanking the former Governor Jakande and others who founded and sustained the station as well as the management and staff of the television station, both retired and serving for “keeping the torch thus farâ€, the Governor pledged, “I promise all of you that we will keep this light aglow whatever it takes to do soâ€.
To the founder of the Station, Alhaji Jakande, Governor Fashola said, “Papa, I thank God for you. Indeed, not many are blessed to be able to actualize their dreams. Some whose dreams are actualized never lived to see them. We thank God for your life; God prospered you to witness thisâ€, pointing out that although the Federal Government voted N2 million in 1982 to set up NTA 2 just to counter the LTV, it did not deter the station from attaining the height it has reached today.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed joy that the Lagos Television has manifested the aspirations of its founding fathers by effectively maintaining a unique public sphere for the government and people of Lagos.
He said through the foresight and unparalleled vision of the first civilian administration in the State headed by Alhaji Lateef Jakande, a platform was created through which the views of the Lagos people as well as the activities and programmes of Government are seen and heard.
Paying glowing tribute to elder statesman, Alhaji Jakande, the Commissioner declared, “We cannot forget in a hurry the opportunity given to Lagosians to experience democracy in its full dimensionâ€, pointing out that the legacy was borne out of the fact that democracy could only thrive where there is effective communication between the people and their representatives in government.
Also praising the contributions of the incumbent Governor of the State in moving the television station to greater heights, the Commissioner said, “Without mincing words, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has provided the impetus for dynamism in every aspect of governance in Lagos State. His exemplary leadership style has propelled all agencies of government, LTV 8 inclusive, to greater heights and has made us all to imbibe the core values of performance, quality assurance, integrity and excellenceâ€.
“This has been the bedrock of the accelerated development and outstanding achievements of the Lagos Television. Today, LTV has become a point of reference on how a medium can attain professional integrity and credibility even within the framework of the public serviceâ€, he said.
Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the three former Governors of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as to the incumbent Governor, past information commissioners and other categories of officers, both retired and serving, who have contributed to the development of the Television Station over the years.
Also present at the occasion were the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bola Badmus Olujobi, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola, Permanent Secretary Lagos Television/Radio Services, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, other senior officers who served the Station in the past and top government functionaries.