Covering the Transition
“Chief Awolowo was reported as saying that he would end his pursuit of nullification of Alhaji Shagari’s election as the president at the Supreme Court but added ominously that he would consider a negative judgment by the apex court as the end of democracy in Nigeria.”
Two or so newspapers in the country did the right thing in reporting the judgment of the Presidential Election Tribunal. They went to the residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the petitioner to the tribunal, to get his views on the tribunal. The tribunal could have done only one of two things: Uphold the declaration of Federal Electoral Commission of Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the President of Nigeria. Or uphold Chief Awolowo’s petition that Alhaji Shagari was not duly elected and, thus, that FEDECO erred in declaring him as the president. If the tribunal had endorsed Chief Awolowo’s petition, the tribunal’s finding could have been the great news. And one would have, accordingly, expected newspaper in the country to report the findings as the great news. In addition, the views of Chief Awolowo and Alhaji Shagari to such a ruling could have been news as well. By not chasing Chief Awolowo who was willing to comment on the matter and who did comment the matter to the newspapers, the other papers in the country failed woefully, Daily Times included.
It is unsatisfactory and unacceptable for papers to view the chief’s resource to the courts as a purely judicial or legal matter. It is political and that is even the most important element of the matter. Chief Awolowo is seeking judicial redress on what he considers a political injustice. Not to report the whole proceeding as such exposes most of our papers as not being in tune with the political musical notes of the day. As it happened, Chief Awolowo told the journalists who went to him that he was appealing against the ruling and that the reason why he wasn’t at the tribunal to hear its judgment was that he already got wind of the outcome: that his petition would be thrown out. The chief was also reported as saying that he would end his pursuit of nullification of Alhaji Shagari’s election as the president with the Supreme Court’s decision which is expected any day. He added ominously that he would consider a negative judgment by the high court of the nation as the end of democracy. Maybe one ought to question that. If nothing else, it is exemplification of democracy in Nigeria that a man is given the opportunity to challenge, through due process, the election of another man to the highest office in the country. Democracy anywhere is not known to do better.
Still on Transition
By way of West Africa magazine, it is understood that the Financial Times got an interview with the president-elect. That means the press in Nigeria is missing something and that ought to stop now. One would have thought that the president-elect would have insisted on granting his first in-dept interview to Nigerian journalists. And maybe one shouldn’t blame the president-elect but the press in Nigeria for not trying to get the interview. According to West Africa magazine, Alhaji Shagari told the Financial Times’ Mark Webster that he would continue as responsibly as possible the tight monetary policy that the military government would hand to him. Not to miss stories of that kind when the political days take off, the Nigerian press will really have to bone up and grow up.
The Economist, the British weekly published in London, is the cream of what can be called the corporate magazine. Corporate, not in the sense that it specialises in boardroom politics and reporting but in the sense that all the stories in the magazine are not signed. It is one magazine with a peculiar format of wishful reporting. The first few pages carry what can be called editorial on as many topics as the magazine considers important throughout the world and then follow up with stories on most of the topics discussed in the editorials. The magazine’s stories read not much differently from the editorials. The magazine like Henry Kissinger and as it is concerned, the former United States Secretary of State can do no wrong.
A few times, the magazine takes rational positions. At such times, one is surprised. Maybe one ought to be surprised by the rare rational positions, because they are taken by the magazine when it considers them pragmatic. That’s the other thing, the Economist is pragmatic. It is opposing the planned visit to Britain of a mixed South African rugby team. Not because it is a South African team and, thus, should be banned for that good enough reason. But because the team is selected by South Africa to confuse opponents of apartheid that it, South Africa, is becoming really liberal in colour relations. The Economist, in other words, sees nothing wrong in cohorting with the racists. On Zimbabwe, for example, the Economist editorial says that if “the bishop (meaning Abel Muzorewa) move towards more democracy, and the guerrillas do not, Mrs. Thatcher should not spend the winter desperately searching for a new one (fence) to perch on.” A good example of wishful thinking!
Andy Young In Town
Andy Young was in town and two big bashes were given in his honour: one by the American Embassy when he arrived in Nigeria and the other given by Dr. Patrick Dele Cole, the managing director of Daily Times. The first party was not as gay as the second one because the evening was dewy and rain continued to sprinkle the guests. But affair at the residence of Dr. Cole was as gay as you would get. Sunny Ade was on hand to give live entertainment. Imagine Sunny Ade playing to a handful of lucky guests who were able to mix things up with him right there on the stage. Sunny Ade is one of those lucky few who can remain young forever. He is willowy and quite affable. Andy Young really turned it loose as he got on the stage and danced as only a black could. For a few moments, he looked like one of the members of the Sunny Ade group. The band played something that sounded like disco. At least that’s what Sunny Ade, Andy Young and the band danced. Yes, Dr. Cole danced spiritedly too.
©Daily Times, September 19, 1979
(Pp.46-48)
