Oluwatomisin Amokeoja reviews media stakeholders response to the recent verbal assault by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode on Daily Trust reporter at a press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers state.
The event that played out in Calabar a week ago was not only an eyesore to many media stakeholders at home and abroad but also to the public who understood the concept of journalism and how it entails holding anyone regardless of their social status accountable.
What might have come as a shock to many was probably how Eyo Charles of Daily Trust with the other seated journalists profusely begged instead of cautioning Fani-Kayode or storming out of the venue in protest as we have had it in the past. Even more shocking is the fact that a-yet-to-be-identified man also parading himself as a journalist mockingly told Charles, “you see yourself”.
The greatest shock has got to be how senior men of the press who know better have been divided in their reactions to the issue. Of course, if it were coming from personalities outside the field it’s understandable as they are not expected to fully understand the profession but in the case of the senior media men, it is a very wrong signal to emerging media practitioners who consider them mentors.
Events afterwards including the emergence of two similar videos of Fani-Kayode insulting journalists have shown that it wasn’t his first, it just happened that he had his cup full this time around for a reason not far-fetched: the social media outcry. It wasn’t about the manner in which Charles framed his question but FFK who is known to always be on the defensive.
Some of the questions begging for answers include: why did it have to take social media outcry for the issue to attract media attention unlike one of the previous events where FFK insulted Femi Okutubo of Trumpet Media and got away with it? Why did it take five days and the viral video for Daily Trust to react even when they must have been fully aware of what transpired since the day of the event?
To safely assume a possible answer, the media is fast drifting away from playing the role of the watchdog to lapdog. A submission that may not be comfortable with many but the earlier the press begins to identify and address the ills bedevilling media operations the better.
It is quite unbelievable that some media outfits considered Fani-Kayode’s retraction statement an apology. A critical look would reveal how he further subtly insulted Charles instead of tendering an unreserved apology. The statement conspicuously indicated FFK’s heavily loaded reservations for Eyo.
In early August, we saw how Trump skillfully dodged Dáte’s question even though it was framed in an unprofessional manner. Trump must have learnt from his encounter with Jiang in May and how the media rallied around her within and after the incident. Could such be said of the media in Nigeria where often than not the journalist is reprimanded by the public, colleagues and employer for doing his/her job?
The more sycophancy is accommodated in the media, the more the media fast lose its prestige in Nigeria and even across the globe. The public can’t take the media seriously when the stakeholders are not in solidarity when it comes to upholding the ethics of the profession.
What happened to the days of guerrilla journalism in Nigeria when journalists were fearless, courageous and sticking to the ethics of journalism came first?
It is high time all stakeholders come together as one to do the right thing or else brace up for more insults by the FFKs lurking around.
Note: This article was written before the latest statement in which Fani-Kayode said he deeply regrets his outburst.