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| Inyali Peter (photo credit: Inyali Peter) |
30 April 2018
On Thursday 12th April this year, I and the publisher of a burgeoning online news blog, FearlessReporters were billed to co-present a research work on —’Democracy in Nigeria Vis-a-vis New Media : an Appraisal’ @ the premier edition of Faculties of Arts/Humanities Scholars Association of Nigerian Universities (FAHSANU) International Conference which held between 9th and 13th of April at the University of Calabar, Calabar; but, that is not the news.
The news is that Peter Inyali couldn’t make it to the presentation unfortunately for health reasons because of the trauma of the attack on him last week at his hometown, Obudu about 12AM by uncivilised elements appointed by Prof Ayade Benedict, Executive Governor of Cross River.
It’s quite instructive that the thrust of the paper which border on to what extent democratic ideals like protection of human rights, etc has been entrenched in Nigeria, was the very reason for which Mr Inyali, my co-researcher was attacked. In other words, the paper was in the right direction.
Having condemned the inglorious action of the two hoodlums appointed by His Excellency the governor of the state, I still feel compelled to add a voice again to that condemnation particularly where the news editor/state house correspondent of CrossRiverWatch, another online news website in Cross River, Mr Jonathan Abang Ugbal was last week detained and embarrassed in government house for allegedly taking and leaking the sleeping-in-action photograph of the Commissioner for Justice/Attorney General of the State, Mr Sunday Abang during the ceremonial signing of the bloated NI. 3 trillion state budget by His Excellency the crying governor. I think, if you have the right to sleep, journalists have the right to say that you slept!
It’s important that I draw our attention to certain truth as relates with democracy : Democracy which we claim to be practicing does not concern itself with the provision of social services, critical infrastructure and the like, but, it’s a value system oriented towards the PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS especially the right to think, and express one’s opinion, among others.
I am disappointed that the Attorney General of the State who is the chiefest law officer beside His crying Excellency could act ultra vires in ensuring the embarrassment of Ugbal. The question would have been : was the photograph photoshopped? Where you sleeping or not? If you think these questions were too cardinal, you would have sued instead of make unnecessary calls to the Governor, etc as I learnt while causing a scene.
Your Excellencies, including the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly and the judiciary, I am charging you all to ensure that Cross River doesn’t slip beyond the present precipice to become more of a banana republic that it has evolved into in recent time that it has been already.
Let’s be democratic in letters and actions. Let new media which has come to stay deepen our democratic experience in Cross River nay Nigeria be given an encouraging nod.
©Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Public Affairs Analyst
