By Ishaq Abdullah

For more than a month I have fought inner wars trying to decide whether to write this article or I should just keep quiet 'to let peace reign.' There are many reasons, among which two are key, for my initial indecision.

It is the globally-acknowledged culture of not openly criticising the media if you want to go far in anything you do.

The other is the tendency to narrow every criticism down to some partisanship.

But I concluded that neither reasons are weightier than my role as a Nigerian and a man of faith who has a responsbility to speak up for the sake of history when I see what I consider to be wrong or detrimental to everyone including those who may see this article as an affront. More important this concerns a constituency for which I have tremendous respect, the media, which ought to be the conscience of the society. Like salt in Yoruba's folklore, the media must never be allowed to spoil or derail
because it has dire consequences for the society.

So what is my grudge with the media? On August 22, 2012, there was a successful break-in at the Kwara State Ministry of Finance by some burglars who reportedly carted away sensitive documents of government transactions and undisclosed amounts of hard currencies. Before that incident, going by all the accounts of the narrative, there had been a failed attempt to burgle this same place just the night before - August 21, 2012.

Kwara Information Commissioner, Tunji Moronfoye, confirmed both incidents in the
Punch story of October 9, a story built on the whistleblowing by Sahara Reporters
the day before. Confronted with the story, Moronfoye caved in: "We can confirm that
unidentified persons broke into the offices of the state Ministry of Finance on Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, on Friday, September 21 and on Sunday, September 22and removed certain items.

"Both incidents were reported to state police command but the public was not informed as the incidents were and emain subjects of on-going police investigations."

As at the time of writing this article, no arrest has been made in connection with
the crime.

We may assume, for the sake of fairness, that it is possible that the mainstream media was not aware of the incident due largely to the occultic way governments are run in our society. But the way and manner the media has treated the story since it was broken is enough reason for a school child to allege conspiracy of silence. It gives one reasons to believe that the media probably had been briefed on the incidents by those behind the dastardly act well ahead of the whistleblowing. This is where the problem is. And I'm sure editors should know that nothing eats away at the credibility of the media than public suspicion that it's complicit in a crime! By all standards, having followed media practices and coverage over the years, I know that the story is a page
one copy for any serious-minded "disinterested" media outlet until all issues surrounding it and questions begging for answers are resolved in public interest. What are these issues: one, the burglary, which reportedly involved the use of grenade and other sophisticated tools to break through the burglary-proof doors, occured right opposite the state Police Command in Ilorin.

Two, there had been a failed attempt to break into this same place just the night before. The place being a government property, a sensitive one for that matter, ought to have been adequately protected.

Three, the incident occurred just as different anti-graft agencies are vetting the books of the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki who faces numerous corruption allegations including police claims that he had used assets belonging to the state to rescue his private business. Investigations are ongoing in this matter and SFU, according to media reports, is planning to take him to court.

Four, there is the claim that similar incident had occurred at the defunct SGBN when the Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC was investigating the alleged 'insider trading' that killed the bank. Documents were stolen and the place was burnt! We must never forget as a people that thousands of our compatriots - high and low - lost their entire life savings to the SGBN fraud involving the same Saraki.

To be sure, a large section of the media has been involved in shameful alliance with
the Sarakis, habit capable of rubbishing the media. This includes the fact that nearly every media house published his notorious press release that he (Saraki) got a court injunction stopping the police from either pursuing the case or arresting him after weeks of dodging police invitation.

It was a deliberate effort by Saraki to mislead the public and no politican should ever get away with such habit if the society must progress. In a saner clime, that misleading press release is enough to earn him media blackout. But more tellingly of media guilt is the fact the media published that sensitive story without checking it with the court. It only takes each media house asking its judicial correspondent to double check with the court. But the media ran with that embarrassing story which turned out to be a legendary falsehood! It took Sahara Reporters a call to the court to rubbish that mischievous press statement. In a serious society the media would apologise to the police and the public. I can't remember any media house did!

Now when the story of the burglary in Finance Ministry broke, a "disinterested" media ought to take it more seriously in view of the backgrounds above. But I can only recall two media houses reporting the terrible incident. And since the skeletal reporting of the incident, no media house (at least what I read so far)is asking any question (such as why no arrest has been made and why the police have remained silent) regarding this grievous crime either through their editorial or even news analysis. Except in a few media houses, opposition's press releases on the matter were ignored. One would expect a "disinterested" media to continue to pile pressure on the police which have remained quiet on a crime committed next door to its operational command base. But no such thing is happening and it is very sad.

Such suspicious behaviour has far-reaching consequences on the society. One, it gives our politicians or any murderous criminals the toehold to carry on with their mindless behaviour, believing they can get away with anything. That way even those who should fear the media would do anything, bolstered by a belief that they can kill any story with their fat bank accounts.

Two, it says everything bad about the media which is supposed to be the conscience of the society. And lastly, it helps the cause of those saying the media has been bought over by big interest and it no longer serves public good. This feeling is very rampant, and is taking credibility and respect away from the media. It is too bad and dangerous for journalists when the public has confidence more in what they read on the social media than in articles reporters spent days to research. But the media must change if it wants to stay float in a world increasingly dominated by inquisitive minds.

Abdullah writes from Ilorin, Kwara State capital, Nigeria.

Related

Opinion: Really, What Thief Steals Documents?

Burglars Raid Kwara Ministry of Finance, Cart Away All Documents of Saraki-era Transactions

Re: Unknown Gunmen Break into Kwara State Ministry of Finance

PDP Accuses ACN of Circulating Fake Documents on Govt in Kwara

ACN Berates Kwara over Burglars' Invasion of Finance Ministry

Saraki Seeks Probe of Ministry's Burglary Incident

Ministry of Finance Burglary: ACN Petitions Police, Deplores Conspiracy of Silence