DIALOGUE AND MEDIA HONESTY
Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
The situation in the world today gives the impression that “power is taken and not given.” Personal and religiousideologies in the media sometimes turn out to be brain washing machines to manipulate the ignorant citizens. We need media honesty given that “until the Lion learns to write; the story will always glorify the hunter.” The children will grow with prejudice and preconception if we do not expose them to the real African identity that appreciates the values of common good. We should nurture good values in our various schools through African literature and history. We need to tell our children who we ought to be as authentic Africans. We should not hide from them our failures. We should be courageous enough to tell them the areas this generation have failed and the ideals we ought to have attained. Let us give space to victims of violence to tell their stories. just the way they feel. Otherwise, they could develop anger transference syndrome. The victim of this transfer of anger could be the government and religion. To avoid this, frankness, sincerity, mutual trust and media honesty are absolutely indispensable. This should go beyond merely tellingthe truth to sincere openness that can produce authentic life. It is only honesty that can sharpen our perception to observe everything around us with objectivity. Honesty still remains the best policy. Deceit does not help any person or nation to grow gracefully.
A person who is honest reveals his or her true identity, inner quality, maturity, personal growth, understanding and acceptance. In response to my article, “How we can avoid this inferno”, Alhaji Kunle Sanni who is a respected member of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) suggests that we need to sincerely interface with Christian leaders who give the impression that Muslims are not feeling the pinch of the insurrection and bloodshed all over the land. He said that the hoodlums are not acting the scripts of any Muslim leader. He added that we should all collaborate in condemning agents of Satan and enemies of humanity who are part of the problem andnot part of the solution. He narrated how Fatima who studied Mass communication at University of Maiduguri who was burnt to death along with thirty people who were killed by Boko Haram terrorists at the village of Auno, Borno in February, 2020. Boko Haram did not ask about her faith before killing her. Alhaji Kunle Sanni cautioned that we should not allow selfish, unpatriotic and corrupt individuals to divide us along ethno-religious lines. He endorsed the idea that Christians and Muslims could have joint prayer protest against terrorists andkidnappers.
To enhance this united proposal, NIREC appeals to those who make statements or write in the name of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to defend the victims of violence and speak truth to power instead of creating media war against each other. During the round table conference organized by KONRAD ADENAUER STIFTUNG from Germany on 18thFebruary, 2020 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, His Royal Highness, Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, the Waziri (Prime Minister) of Katsina Emirate of Nigeria reported his encounter and interview with some Boko Haram members. According to Prof. Lugga, most members of the Boko Haram terrorist organization are youths who were political thugs. They kill 99% of ordinary people. It is only when a prominent person is killed that alarm is raised on the media. He lamented that the ordinary people in Nigeria are not protected. So many people are now internally displaced. He said that we should stop blaming religion for the insurgency. Let those who profess religion be truly and interiorly converted to the Almighty God.
Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, the Acting General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria traced the root cause of division between Christians and Muslims and the attendant mutual suspicion to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where Sharia is mentioned 73 times, Islam, 28 times, Grand Kadi, 54 times, Muslim, 10 times and no mention of Christian, Church, Jesus and Christianity. He said that another threat to the unity of Nigeria is lack of respect for federal character. All these appear to be giving the impression of double constitutions in some States of Nigeria. Ustaz Abubakr S. Muhammad who represented the Secretary General of the NSCIA was surprised that Barrister Daramola quoted from the video that has gone virile in social media. He responded that the constitution was not written by one person and wondered why the Christians who were present at the committee of the constitution drafting and review allowed this to happen. He appealed that we should not give the impression that the government is trying to eliminate one religion for the other. Heappealed that we should together fight and condemn the terrorists who violate the mainstream Islam.
Dr. Ahmed Jibril Suleiman, Department of Public Law, AhmaduBello University, Zaria revealed that Sharia was practiced in the Northern part of Nigeria before the advent of the Nigerian Constitution and Independence. This implies that Nigerians canlive in peace and harmony by allowing Muslims to privately use the Sharia while Christians should privately use their ecclesiastical laws without interference of government. A critical and objective reading would make the reader think that the Sharia is copied from books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy of the Holy Bible. Every religion has commandments, rules and regulations to guide adherents to live happily, orderly and peacefully on earth. The essence of law is social coherence just as the essence of Canon law of the Catholic Church is Salvation of Souls. Any law that does not promote human dignity is evil and does not come from God. Religious laws are like compass that takes the sailor to a safe shore. The letter and spirit of the law need to enhance peaceful coexistence by deterring criminals from violating human rights.
Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Head of the Directorate of Research and Policy Analysis, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution believed that these problems could be resolved if religion can reconnect people to the grassroots. Osai Ojigho, Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria is of the opinion that the key role of religion is to be the voice of the voiceless on earth. Let us be true to one another and let the Political leaders demonstrate that they prefer the common good to ethnic and religious bias.Leaders must talk in wisdom and mean what they say. According to Saint James, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. With the tongue we praise God, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be (James 3: 3-11). Those who use the media should pray for wisdom that comes from heaven. Journalists and those who communicate through the media should endeavour to be peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC -nirec.ng@gmail.com) & The Secretary General of the West Africa Inter-Religious Council (WA-IRC – wairc.rfp@gmail.com).
