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ABSTRACT
This study sought to know the role of Nigerian press played in restoring democracy in Nigeria from 1996 to 1999. This study focuses on the challenges that led to the actualization of contemporary democratic political governance in Nigeria. The study employed content analysis method to contextualize procedural and substantive democratic governance in the Nigeria perspective experiences. population of the study was contents drawn from data gathered. Data were analyzed by use of simple percentages. The content reported in the Nigerian print media and other journal from 1996 – 1999 has been selected in line with the objective of the study. The report has been examined through a rigorous and tedious qualitative review of the text. Based on the findings the researcher established the position of the press in any political society and the relationship between the state and press to any political society and made recommendation that could guide the Nigerian press to sustain the democratic culture in the present era.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The role of the press in many societies cannot be undermined. In many societies the press play’s a crucial role of shaping the civil governance of the society. In Nigeria, section 22 of the 1999 constitution as amended sanctifies the role of the press as being to ensure the accountability of government at all levels to the people. This salvage the relationship between the press and the society.
The press can never be separated from Nigeria’s long walk to democracy. It was an effective tool in the hand of the proponents of democracy, to mobilize the ragtag and the bobtails against the smoking guns of the military to return them to their neural habitat, the Barrack. Sequel to the unfortunate events of January 15, 1966 when some elements within the Nigerian military truncated the pioneer democratic leadership the country was ruled by a succession of military Heads of State. This continues until 1979 when Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to the democratic elected government, led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari. In 1983 a military coup ousted Alhaji Shehu Shagari and General Buhari took over power to retune Nigeria to yet another era of military rule.
This continued until military Government under the leadership of General Abdusalam Abubakar handed over power to General to general Obasanjo (Rtd) on the 29th of May 1999 and democracy has thriving since then.
Throughout this yo – yo period of military and democratically elected leadership in Nigeria, the pres just like the Biblical voice in the wilderness had continued to cry – out on the need to exist in a country where the people are able to elect the leader of their choice in a free and fair manner.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The press is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate of the realm, the others being the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary; the role of the press is also reflected in section 22 of the 1999 constitution as an institution that is changed the responsibility to police over the fundamental objectives and direct principles of state, police, as well as citizens fundamental human rights. Throughout the turbulent years of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the press obviously become the last hope of the common man on the street.
This was because the military government had the power to override the law courts in the land.
the press was the only institution in the land that rallied the cacophony of voice to speaks the truth to the military and dared to asked them to retune to the barracks ( Nwankwo: 2004).
In hind sight, it is obvious that the press paid a pretty high price to attempt to speak up for the people. The military government under general Buhari tenure promulgated the infamous decree of 1984 which many saw as an anti-press decree.
Numerous journalists were arrested tortured tailed and some oven lost their like in the line of duty.
Some notable journalists who were arrested and detained without due process and trial includes Tunji Thomason, Chris Mama Dan Bala, Abu Eghosa Alimufua, even Mrs Chris Anyanwo (spent about six years in prison).
The notable case on record is the case of Dele Giwa who was killed by letter bomb base on his out spoken against the military leadership of Ibrahim Babaginda.
the reason of all these is that these journalists reported news stories about the ulgy trends of activities of military leaders by taking their views concerning issues of nationals polite (Sokari; 2010).
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The following are the specific objective of the study.
- To know how the press succeeded in bringing sanity into Nigeria politics from the military era to the present advent of democracy.
- To explain and represent the role of the Nigerian press in sustaining true democratic political society in Nigeria.
- To proffer solution to some of the problems faced by journalists in the discharge of their constitutional role in present era.
- To x –ray the challenges of the Nigerian press in the struggle for substantive democratic rule from 1996 to 1999 as concerned the present era, in order to reflect the future.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is interesting because it deal with the role of the Nigerian press played, in restoring democratic government in Nigeria from 1996 to 1999.
This study also discovered some of the challenges, as faced by the Nigerian press; some of these challenges are threat to life, jail terns, and death cases of some journalists in cause of upholding democratic cavity of Nigeria state.
The study stands for test of time because what becomes Nigerian state today, was by the effort of the press; this can be relate back from the colonial era, when the nationalists are using the press to campaign for Nigerian in dependence. Nationalist like chief Nnamdi Azikiwe uses the press to proposed to the proposed to the masters on what the masses want as against their indecisive rule of the colonial masters. The press had always being the voice of the people, is only medium that always at the front run to stand for the good of the people, except in a society where the press as being part of the national government. Even in such societies, few individual uses the press to express their divergent opinion on national issues. In major societies the press is the voice to be held.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study is guided by the followings questions
- How did the Nigerian press played the role in bringing the sanity into Nigeria state?
- What can the press do in this modern era to sustain a democratic society as Nigeria?
- What are the challenges the Nigerian press faced during the struggle for tune democracy in Nigeria?
- Why did the press struggle for entrenchment of democratic government in Nigeria?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is a content analysis which base on the printing press (Newspapers and magazines) and other notable journals and books.
This newspapers and magazines are national dailies and weekly magazines. The dailies are finch and the Guardian newspapers, and the magazines are news watch and Tell magazine.
This news papers and magazine are owned by private individuals. This work took a look at the news stories that appeared in this newspaper and magazines concerning regimes as concerned this present ear. This study made its findings from these newspapers and the magazine in a period of four years. The editions are 1993 to 1999 were collected year by year. Each edition was only revived with the issue that concerned the struggle for true democracy.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study was undertaken under a rigorous and tedious professional scrutiny, with academic supervision which was interrupted by assignment and test.
The study was also limited by non direction of the student to get needed material as concerned the topic, both in the polytechnic. The study centered on government related issues in mass communication media thus past research work on this topic are few.
The student researcher inability to leave the polytechnic premises regularly limits the study. And also lack of finance to gathered material needed to carryout the study also limited this study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Press: These are all media of mass communication that uses paper technology to deliver message.
Constitution: The basic principles, rules, regulations and procedures by which as state is established and governed.
Democracy: A system of government in which every members of the society are well represented in the government.
State: A geographical society which is guided by laws, conversion ethics etc.
Military regime: The tenure of a military leader
Organs of the state: The three bodies that governed the state, i.e. the executive, legislatures, and the judiciary.