A former Managing Director, the Guardian Newspaper Mr. Emeka Izeze on Wednesday lamented that journalists are failing to define their relationships with those in governments to the detriment of their self worth, the neutrality that their jobs demand and the overall lack of respect by government officials.
Izeze said journalists have ignored the fact they are not appendages of governments or elected officials but partners in public office holding.
Izeze was among discussants on Wednesday at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
While the keynote speech was delivered by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, other speakers at the event included former National Commissioner of the Independent National Commission, INEC, Prof Lai Olurode, former President of the NGE, Funke Egbemode, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The PUNCH, Joseph Adeyeye; and former Special Adviser to late President Muhammadu Buhari on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina.
Izeze, who was discussing the paper delivered by Governor Mohammed titled Journalism and The Challenges of Nation Building in Multi-Ethnic Society, expressed concerns over what he described as the near disdain and lack of respect by officials of the government for events hosted by the media.
He said he did not find it excusable that one of the governors invited for the event to honour a media and political giant such as Jakande found it worthy to grace the occasion.
“We are not appendages to the government but as partners of public office holders. And we can never do our jobs well if we continue to behave as if we are appendages to the government .
Governments must recognise they cannot function well without proper journalism. We as journalists are purveyors of solutions,” he said
Izeze said that journalists have “become too respectful, too fearful and most dangerously too close” to government officials.
He said this has caused lack of respect by those in authority.
The former Guardian boss said that Jakande lived well as a journalist and public administrator, noting that he even believed that Jakande performed more as a journalist than as a governor.
NPO Reports that the late Jakande governed Lagos state between 1979 to 1983.
The former Special Adviser to late President Buhari, Adesina said Jakande lived an exemplary life which eschewed what he called petty sentiments such as religion, race and others.
“In a country like this, we must begin to have leaders who don’t consider such factors and the media must be ready to spearhead such struggles,” Adesina said.
He added that the Nigerian media was born into activism urging practitioners to ensure the media to lead in activism for the good of the country.
He said journalists must get their acts together to be well positioned to join those in government to straighten the affairs of Nigeria.
“You cannot promote ethics if your own house is in disorder. The NGE has a crucial role to play in straightening the country,” Adesina concluded.
Adeyeye, in his submission, disagreed with Izeze that Jakande did better as a journalist than governor.
He said Jakande had good records as a journalist noting that the Jakande schools and Jakande estates and other projects under his administration are testimonies that he was a great public administrator.