ANTI-SEMITISM, VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND MEDIA COMPLICITY IN NIGERIA
In sane societies the world over, the media effectively carries out it's legitimate duty not just as an institution of influence, but as the most potent pressure group. But in Nigeria, reverse is rather the case. Study shows that eighty percent (80%) of major media organisations in the country are either government-owned or belongs to political elites. Ironically, rather than playing their professional role of a supposed arm of intelligentsia, the media in Nigeria has turned out as an accomplice to all the notable vices that dot the land, especially when it comes to the ineptitude and impunity of politicians and the bizarre acts of rascality associated with the security agents, regarding the reoccurring human rights abuses.
On Tuesday 11th December 2018, thousands of Biafran Jewish adherents (worshippers) embarked on a peaceful annual religious procession/evangelism in Umuahia, Abia State. The procession was so impeccably coordinated to the extent that most of the participants took to controlling traffics, directing vehicular and pedestrian movements on the most stress-free routes. But then, the Nigerian government has consistently exhibited it's abhorrence to civility. Combined armed security personnel comprising of the army and police, rolled out sophiscated ammunition newly imported from God-knows where unprovoked, against the people. Surely, this is Nigeria, where potency of these acquired military equipment meant to engage insurgents (terrorists), are blatantly being tested on innocent civilian population and afterwards discarded!
ALSO READ HERE: PERSECUTION OF BIAFRAN JEWS IN NIGERIA IS A REPLICA OF THE JEWISH HOLOCAUST BY THE NAZIS
Then comes the media henchmen who see absolutely no evil, hear no evil and feel no evil in the whole thing. Instead of standing on the side of the citizens to defend their rights to freedom of worship and peaceful assembly, they shamelessly embark on campaign of calumny against the Biafran Jewish faithfuls while defending the despicable brutality of the government. A well known journalist in one of the major news bulletins owned by a notable Yoruba politician here in Nigeria, who actually was in Umuahia on that fateful day, witnessed firsthand, all that transpired in the course of that procession by the Jewish evangelists. It is disappointing to note that this same journalist eventually came up with a report with a misleading headline: "Many Arrested As IPOB Members Clash With Police In Umuahia". I was really forced to send him a message registering my displeasure and disappointment. This "learned friend" intelligently responded that it is his editor's choice of headline, promising to effect correction.
Firstly, even if most of the participants in that religious procession are either members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or sympathizers who may even choose to display any Biafra- customized material like flag due to ideological or political inclination, it does not in any way give a suggestion that the religious procession is officially an IPOB event. Therefore, saying that IPOB members were arrested in Umuahia because they clashed with security operatives is not just a totally deliberate misrepresentation of fact but also, a spurious diversionary tactic aimed at an attempted justification of the suppression of religious freedom. We are all aware of the reasons behind Nigerian government's declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organization with no evidential proof. It is floated to shield itself from both moral and legal burden arising from the unabated crimes being perpetrated against innocent, armless and law abiding IPOB activists across the country. It is at this background that a conscienceless media outlet would boldly write that the procession of the Biafran Jewish adherents in Umuahia was carried out by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Secondly, the consistently unprofessional insertion of the word "clash" by the Nigerian media, particularly when it concerns the clampdown on peaceful IPOB members by the Nigerian armed security operatives, clearly unravels the ethical decadence of the Nigerian journalists. English dictionary defines the word "clash" in the context in which it is being applied, to mean "to come into violent conflict". This invariably means that before a clash could take place, two parties possessing "equal" means of violence and retaliation, must be present on the scene. In a situation where a particular party exerts greater superiority of might and influence against an inferior helpless party, it is no longer seen and interpreted as a clash, but a definitive case of intimidation, persecution and suppression. What really transpired In Umuahia, is a notorious case of suppression of the Jewish religion and persecution of the adherents with impunity by the agents of the Nigerian State. But usually, the Nigerian media has chosen an infamous path in carrying out its functions by craftily taking side with the perpetrators of these notorious crimes.
The attached photograph clearly portrays an image of a young disabled Biafran Jewish worshipper known as DAVID IGBOKE SIMON, who amongst fifty (52) others, was equally abducted by the Nigerian security forces on Tuesday 11th December, 2018. The question now is, how can this young man without any of his two arms, clash with heavily armed Nigerian army and police personnel? Therein lies the sole incontrovertible reason why Nigeria is so much rotten to an irredeemable dimension.
Written by Paul Ihechi Alagba,
Deputy National Leader & Media Analyst at Family Writers Press and International Correspondent for Celtic Cross Global Press Corps
In sane societies the world over, the media effectively carries out it's legitimate duty not just as an institution of influence, but as the most potent pressure group. But in Nigeria, reverse is rather the case. Study shows that eighty percent (80%) of major media organisations in the country are either government-owned or belongs to political elites. Ironically, rather than playing their professional role of a supposed arm of intelligentsia, the media in Nigeria has turned out as an accomplice to all the notable vices that dot the land, especially when it comes to the ineptitude and impunity of politicians and the bizarre acts of rascality associated with the security agents, regarding the reoccurring human rights abuses.
On Tuesday 11th December 2018, thousands of Biafran Jewish adherents (worshippers) embarked on a peaceful annual religious procession/evangelism in Umuahia, Abia State. The procession was so impeccably coordinated to the extent that most of the participants took to controlling traffics, directing vehicular and pedestrian movements on the most stress-free routes. But then, the Nigerian government has consistently exhibited it's abhorrence to civility. Combined armed security personnel comprising of the army and police, rolled out sophiscated ammunition newly imported from God-knows where unprovoked, against the people. Surely, this is Nigeria, where potency of these acquired military equipment meant to engage insurgents (terrorists), are blatantly being tested on innocent civilian population and afterwards discarded!ALSO READ HERE: PERSECUTION OF BIAFRAN JEWS IN NIGERIA IS A REPLICA OF THE JEWISH HOLOCAUST BY THE NAZIS
Then comes the media henchmen who see absolutely no evil, hear no evil and feel no evil in the whole thing. Instead of standing on the side of the citizens to defend their rights to freedom of worship and peaceful assembly, they shamelessly embark on campaign of calumny against the Biafran Jewish faithfuls while defending the despicable brutality of the government. A well known journalist in one of the major news bulletins owned by a notable Yoruba politician here in Nigeria, who actually was in Umuahia on that fateful day, witnessed firsthand, all that transpired in the course of that procession by the Jewish evangelists. It is disappointing to note that this same journalist eventually came up with a report with a misleading headline: "Many Arrested As IPOB Members Clash With Police In Umuahia". I was really forced to send him a message registering my displeasure and disappointment. This "learned friend" intelligently responded that it is his editor's choice of headline, promising to effect correction.
Firstly, even if most of the participants in that religious procession are either members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or sympathizers who may even choose to display any Biafra- customized material like flag due to ideological or political inclination, it does not in any way give a suggestion that the religious procession is officially an IPOB event. Therefore, saying that IPOB members were arrested in Umuahia because they clashed with security operatives is not just a totally deliberate misrepresentation of fact but also, a spurious diversionary tactic aimed at an attempted justification of the suppression of religious freedom. We are all aware of the reasons behind Nigerian government's declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organization with no evidential proof. It is floated to shield itself from both moral and legal burden arising from the unabated crimes being perpetrated against innocent, armless and law abiding IPOB activists across the country. It is at this background that a conscienceless media outlet would boldly write that the procession of the Biafran Jewish adherents in Umuahia was carried out by the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Secondly, the consistently unprofessional insertion of the word "clash" by the Nigerian media, particularly when it concerns the clampdown on peaceful IPOB members by the Nigerian armed security operatives, clearly unravels the ethical decadence of the Nigerian journalists. English dictionary defines the word "clash" in the context in which it is being applied, to mean "to come into violent conflict". This invariably means that before a clash could take place, two parties possessing "equal" means of violence and retaliation, must be present on the scene. In a situation where a particular party exerts greater superiority of might and influence against an inferior helpless party, it is no longer seen and interpreted as a clash, but a definitive case of intimidation, persecution and suppression. What really transpired In Umuahia, is a notorious case of suppression of the Jewish religion and persecution of the adherents with impunity by the agents of the Nigerian State. But usually, the Nigerian media has chosen an infamous path in carrying out its functions by craftily taking side with the perpetrators of these notorious crimes.
The attached photograph clearly portrays an image of a young disabled Biafran Jewish worshipper known as DAVID IGBOKE SIMON, who amongst fifty (52) others, was equally abducted by the Nigerian security forces on Tuesday 11th December, 2018. The question now is, how can this young man without any of his two arms, clash with heavily armed Nigerian army and police personnel? Therein lies the sole incontrovertible reason why Nigeria is so much rotten to an irredeemable dimension.
Written by Paul Ihechi Alagba,
Deputy National Leader & Media Analyst at Family Writers Press and International Correspondent for Celtic Cross Global Press Corps
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