Joining the Season of Anger – NaijaPundit and Irresponsible Journalism – By Kunle Ojeleye

Posted by admin Articles, Columnists, Kunle Ojeleye, NNP Columnists Saturday, September 15th, 2012

By Dr. Kunle Ojeleye | Calgary, Canada | Sept. 15, 2012 – I must confess that the recent headline from NaijaPundit is one of the most irresponsible sensationalising journalism I have ever seen. Please be the judge.

Headline From NaijaPundit
THE ONLY THING SACROSANCT IN NIGERIA IS THE QUR’AN-BUHARI
(Written by Vanguard Newspapers on 30 August 2012).

Body Of Report From NaijaPundit.
[Buhari criticized the manner at which those in position of authority violated the constitution and electoral laws in Nigeria, noting that “if there is anything that has enjoyed sanctity under PDP-led government from 1999 to date it is the Holy Book”. The CPC National Leader argued that the constitution had been raped and sidelined in our quest to attain nationhood, stressing that “under normal circumstances we are supposed to work strictly within the provisions of the constitution, but this is Nigeria and nothing is perfect and the only thing they have not tampered with between 1999 to date in Nigeria is the Holy Quran”.]

Now ask yourself, if NaijaPundit’s headline has any semblance whatsoever to what Buhari said or is reported to have said.

Furthermore, anyone that sees the way NaijaPundit carved its headline would have thought the headline as well as the full story was lifted from Vanguard Newspaper in one piece.
Please contrast NaijaPundit’s headline with the headline in Vanguard Newspaper “2015: I’m ready for PDP – Buhari”. If I were the editorial board of Vanguard, I would by now be considering legal action against NaijaPundit for misrepresentation.

And as lazy as some Nigerians are, they have not bothered to read the full report either as posted by NaijaPundit or as originally posted by Vanguard before condemning Buhari (just as most have done in regards to Nnaji in the last 48 hours).

In the light of:

Irresponsible headlines like the one posted by NaijaPundit that are capable of setting the nation on unnecessary and unwanted fire; and
The teeming mass of Nigerians who like to be fed without lifting a finger to verify things for themselves – (fed lies, shit, bullshit, etc);

I am beginning to see Reuben Abati’s recent tirade in a different light – ““THEY” in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan. This army of sponsored and self-appointed anarchists is so diverse; many of them don’t even know why or how they should attack the President”.

Those committed to the Nigerian project seriously need to be asking themselves if the society we currently have is indeed redeemable. With the way NEPA workers have been jubilating that the man who was becoming a clog in the wheel of their illicit business of extorting money from citizens for service not provided has been pushed out of the system, and a teeming mass of the populace (literate or illiterate) choosing to remain lazy and ignorant, why are we blaming irresponsible leaders when they have been thrown up by a system that has become morally depraved?

As Abati would say, before you start throwing stones, rocks and whatever your hands may find,

I do not know Buhari and have no close relationship with any top politicians in Nigeria,
I do not belong to any political party in Nigeria

So, save your breath and spare me your thought that I am working for Buhari or anybody.

I stand for the truth, fairness, objectivity, responsibility and mutual respect in human relationship regardless of the race, creed, colour, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation of those who may be involved.

Above all, I have an unyielding and eternal hope in Nigeria as a nation that can be mutually beneficial to all its inhabitants, if and only if, we all disallow emotions and pride to rule our actions and inactions.wp_posts