No Opposition Can Perform Creditably Without The Media —Muhammed

No opposition party can perform its role of being watchdog to the government in power creditably without the media, says Alhaji Lai Muhammed, National Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

Muhammed who was the guest lecturer at the Press Week of the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents, LAGOCO held at the Lagos Television in Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, at the weekend, spoke on The Role of Opposition Parties in Nation Building: 13 Years of Democratic Experience.

Muhammed said: “No opposition party can perform its role creditably without the media. They have been our partners, standing shoulder to shoulder with us all the way. They have not only supported us, they have criticised us, when necessary, and engaged us in robust debates on key issues.

“We are very grateful for this, which goes a long way to confirm what we have always believed, that you stand to get more from the media when you take them as a critical partner in the task of nation building, rather than merely as an instrument for the dissemination of news,” he said.

Muhammed, whose speech was read by Mr Jide Jimoh, ex-member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said it was not easy to play the role of opposition to the government in power.

“While many Nigerians have shown appreciation, one way or the other, for this onerous task, some others have sought to depict one as being perpetually against the government of the day. This cannot be farther from the truth.

“When the occasion demands it, we commend the government of the day. Let me cite the most recent example. You will recollect that the Ministry of Aviation had a running battle with some foreign airlines over the discriminatory fares they charge Nigerians, compared to what they charge Ghanaians, on the same route, e.g Lagos-London.

“While the controversy was raging, we issued a statement commending the ministry’s effort to ensure that Nigerians are treated with respect and dignity, rather than being fleeced by greedy foreign airlines. It is very easy to forget this. Well, I must also say that such commendations are quite few because this PDP-Federal Government gives little or nothing to cheer,” he said.

“Let me also use this opportunity to say that whatever we have achieved as the voice of the opposition could not have been possible without the support of all Nigerians. They have constantly kept us on our toes as we seek to perform this role creditably. Ordinary Nigerians have called our attention to issues they believe we must take up with the government of the day, whether it is the issue of fuel subsidy, insecurity of lives and property, poor management of the economy or worsening state of infrastructure.

“They have given us leads, facts and figures. To us, there can be no better indication of the people’s vote of confidence in us. You will recall the attempt by the Jonathan administration to form the so-called Unity Government’ after the election, and the principled stand taken by our party not to have anything to do with it,” he added.

He stated that despite the dominance of the ruling party, the ACN had created and fortified areas of autonomy both for the party and for other forces and formations in the country, adding that despite direct and indirect threats, “we have disputed the legitimacy of the ruling party in its violations of public trust and subversion of the commonwealth.”