By Dan ETOKIDEM
There is a Yoruba saying that the dog that would be lost would never hear the hunter’s whistle. But the hunter must blow his whistle all the same in the forlorn hope that his woebegone kennel might by some chance pick a strain of it.
An Uyo based newspaper, Global Accord, on it’s 30th September – 3rd October, 2019 edition, Volume 5, No. 30, published a highly malicious and defamatory story against Hon Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, titled; “Horror! Enoidem in Murder Scandal …As Village Head calls for investigation.
The content which was a display of demonstrable unprofessionalism on the part of the publisher, was indeed a show of lack of regards to ethics which further confirmed what many people have spoken about the editorial content of the paper in hushed tones in recent months. It seems the papers overall approach to journalism is always absurd, offensive and provocative while it would also appear that there was a lot more significance about what the publication did not say than what it actually said in the story under reference. No attempt was made to hear the other side of the story as professional ethics demands.
Sadly, some oddities are fast becoming a routine and culture in Akwa Ibom and no sane profession or society can accept and institutionalise such vice as a norm.
The said publication paid no attention to facts, ethics or objectivity. Except the writer lies to himself, he knows that he intentionally crossed the red line no matter the parameter one would want to view and analyse the said publication. Regrettably, the frequent and unrelenting embrace of unprofessionalism in the name of journalism by the paper is simply too suffocating to be ignored by the NUJ itself as the said publication was not only morally bankrupt but ethically and professionally compromised.
This is certainly not the kind of professional civility one expects from a 21st century newspaper worth its salt. Blinded perhaps by either sponsored or personal vengeful animosity and vendetta, the publication was in itself reprehensible. In lying, the paper told memorable and unforgivable lies. The writer without recourse to facts and objectivity, may be rejoicing over his action like an excited teenager, but such cocktail of professional irregularly should worry not a few in the industry.
The entire story was based on pure lies and unleavened malice. Global Accord’s display of all known ethical vices was superb but I doubt if his readers were inspired at such publication that was nothing but an anathema to ethical and professional ethos.
Agreed, Akwa Ibom, because of politics, has been caught in an unfortunate situation whereby the hate that divides us is savage. For too long the media has portrayed the state as an entity with a metaphor for the wrong things. But the media in the state should allow truth and facts to guide its operations and forbid propaganda – fuelled emotional writings from turning them into the instruments of other people’s designs.
The fulcrum of any profession lies in adherence to ethics and the media is no exception. Regardless of the cloudy and fouled political atmosphere we find ourselves, there is always need for professional restraint no matter the inducement because no society or individual will hesitate not to treat malicious and defamatory publication with the odium it deserves.
You may like or hate Barr Emmanuel Enoidem but you cannot change who he is nor dispute what God has made him and used him to do for Akwa Ibom and humanity. He is meticulous. He is methodical. He is reflective. He has the boldness of his convictions. He has character. He has integrity. He is intensely focused. He is firm and determined. But he is never a murderer as alleged by the newspaper.
Global Accord carried its game of malice against Barr Enoidem to a serpentine venom and this should be condemned by all sane persons. While ours is a society in which nothing succeeds like impunity, no one, however, is fooled by the clearly sugar – coated falsehood of the paper and reporters must ensure that they are not themselves consumed by the dynamics they themselves unleash especially when it may lead to litigation.
Elections have come and gone. The media must not allow itself to be used by those who still nurse the animosities and prejudice of the past. Global Accord has the right to publish whatever the paper feels it should. No one disputes that. But when it intentionally deviates from upholding ethical values the profession demands, it should also have the honour to accept its mistake and offer the necessary professional penance morality and the code of ethics demands.
On its part, the NUJ must not relent in its effort at ensuring that institutional decay that has engulfed other profession do not become infectious within her fold. The Comrade Amos Etuk led NUJ should see through this mischief and apply the necessary professional scansions and reprimand to promote, preserve and protect the sanctity of the union and profession. The danger here is that if the NUJ do not act fast in stamping its feet to uphold professional ethics, even the very survival of the state may itself be threatened. This is one avoidable tragedy all hands must be on deck to avoid.
