Fashola Tasks Editors On Prudent Management Of Information

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday tasked Nigerian media practitioners, on the need to subject every news item slated for publication to a test as to whether such information is the best to be shared about the country.

Governor Fashola, who stated this during the Executive Session of the 7th All Nigeria Editors Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Benin City, Southsouth Nigeria, said what should be the pre-occupation of every media manager in Nigeria is a final test by raising the question: “Is this information the best representative of the kind of story that I want to share about my country to the world?”

The Governor reminded that at every time when an editor signs off a story it is no longer confined to the shores of Nigeria but received globally by virtue of the power of information technology.

Governor Fashola who spoke on the theme of the Conference, “ Deepening Democracy: The Role of the Editor”,  said taken within the context of deepening democracy, Nigerian editors should be commended for the role played in the electoral process because they kept the people informed of how the electoral processes were evolving especially during the last general elections.

The Governor who argued that there is always room for improvement in terms of performance by the editors reiterated that part of the preoccupation of the editors within the context of good governance should be what do Nigerians do after the electoral process.

He added that as the fourth arm of the government, albeit not funded from the public purse, how free the press is in any country is a strong measure of how democratic that particular jurisdiction is.

Governor Fashola reiterated that the media should recognise that it has a governmental and non-governmental role to play because it owes some responsibilities and duties in the process of nation building which does not start and end with just reporting alone.

“In the process of trying to play your role, you must refrain from taking a distant approach such as believing that government has or has not met your expectations. It requires your management of information prudently.”

Giving practical examples of how the Nigerian media could have managed some issues better, Governor Fashola who cited the case of corruption as a classical example said the way Nigeria media reports issue of corruption makes it appear as if every Nigerian is corrupt.

“Let us look at the way we have managed the corruption issue in our country. The way we have managed it, one is tempted to think all of the 150 million people in this country are all corrupt. Anybody who has never been to this country who views this country and on the internet will be tempted to come to that conclusion and that cannot be the case.

 “The evidence suggests that it is not. Undoubtedly, there are corrupt people but that is not all of us. Therefore, I would urge that until there is some conclusive and suggestive evidence that is compelling to command and compel an investigation, we should be very loathe to make those publications,” the Governor stated.

 He added that two years ago in a distant location, there arose a case of manipulation of funds that led to the removal of the Speaker in Parliament, but that throughout the saga, the local media in that country did not reflect the news in any publication that there was corruption in Parliament rather it was tagged as “political expenses scandal”.

Governor Fashola said with the way some stories are reported about proceedings at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meetings, the impression always being created before those living outside Nigeria is that at every FAAC meetings money is just collected in several big bags and taken away to be distributed whereas no cash exchanges hands but only funds deposited into specific accounts.

The Lagos State helmsman explained that what media practitioners should note is that with such stories the message being sent to the global investing economy is that Nigeria is not a place to do business which is just one of the net effects.

“No country can develop her country based on the strength of her resources alone. That is why you have international borrowing and international investments,” he explained.

South Africa arguably has the highest murder rate in the world, yet it still hosted the World Cup because of the collective way the country’s media managed information.

“Even when some countries ganged up against them, the South African media rose to defend the rights of the country. Now, their economy is the better for it”, Governor Fashola stated.

The Governor noted that once a news item emanates from the local media outfits, everyone believes it, stressing that he is not canvassing that improper conduct should not be reported.

“There are other stories of excitement, interest, progress and exploits going on in many parts which we have not made enough efforts to notice. Our sense of despair might have overwhelmed us and cannot focus on the good but the bad. Nigeria is not definitely the worst place in the world.

“We must contextualise our location, set targets for development of where we want to be. Where everyone must see himself as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.”

The Governor also told the gathering of editors and media managers that the nation could have done better in the way it has managed some of the topical issues that have recently challenged the country.

Specifically, he said the issue of the Minimum wage could have been better handled, if Nigerians have been made to understand the dangers inherent in uniform wage for a country where the income is not uniform just as population is not uniform instead of painting the Governors as the enemy.

Speaking on how the media has reported the issue of security, Governor Fashola said the reports have always given the impression that Nigeria is the most insecure place in the world.

“We are in a global competitive arena where opponents are ready to take advantage of our mistakes. We are at the verge of a great turn around because this continent combines close to 40 percent of the world’s mineral resources. You know that 30 percent of the world copper deposit is in Congo and it is in the interest of the economic world powers that the country and the continent do not develop so that they can always procure the copper and other mineral resources at low prices.”

Governor Fashola said several multi-national telecommunication companies are in Nigeria largely because the returns on investments are very high although with some associated risks.

Also speaking, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole challenged the media to be ready to accord the right epithet to political leaders especially those who have been convicted under the law for undermining the collective will of the people.

He added that the media should be ready to interrogate political leaders more on what they intend to do for the electorate to ensure that whenever they make any promise they are held to it.

Governor Oshiomhole reiterated that the media must also develop some verifiable frame of references with which it can evaluate political leaders and help the people make sound political judgements.

He noted that such frames of reference would enable people detect politicians in the habit of saying certain things, while in power and singing a totally different tune once outside power.

Prominent among those who attended the ceremony were some members of the National Assembly, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr, Hakeem Bello as well as editors from both print and broadcast media.