TV2’s False Report About Nigerians in Hungary – Hakeem Babalola

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Articles, Columnists, Hakeem Babalola, NNP Columnists Monday, May 14th, 2012

By Hakeem Babalola | Budapest, Hungary | May 14, 2012 – I think I should start by saying this: Nothing makes me proud than seeing my country and its appointed representatives doing the right thing regarding our welfare.

The recent false report by the Hungarian TV2 concerning Nigerian citizens is worth commenting on; and the appropriate response by our representatives is commendable.

The Embassy of the Republic of Nigeria, Budapest had requested TV2 to correct the error that the Nigerian nationals were alleged to be culprits of a drug and rape case involving two female Hungarian minors.

Gone were the days when no one seem concerned about this kind of reports talk less of requesting for a correction.

According to the embassy, it was revealed by the Hungarian Police that it was not Nigerian nationals that committed the crime.

Yet TV2 went to town and reported in its programme titled “Tények” (Facts) that Nigerian nationals actually committed the crime.

If a programme named Facts then goes on to report False, then I felt constrained to submit that something is amiss; that a game is being played somewhere. Correct me if I am right.

Responding to the embassy’s request however, TV2 acknowledged its “mistake” and thus promised to correct it; and with assurance that it was not intentional to portray Nigerian citizens as criminals.

“While expressing our regret,” reads a letter signed by TV2 Programme Manager, Péter Kiss. “We wish to assure your Excellency that the television did not have any intention to negatively portray the Nigerian citizens as such”.

TV2 management confirmed the correction, saying it was broadcasted on April 6 on the same programme Tények where it was stated that the suspects – after all – were not Nigerians.

Good, but apparently the deed has been done. Sure we all make mistake, and we all commit error one way or the other. The greater problem lies in when people or organisations believe they are two big to apologise – for any error committed.

In my humble opinion, the false report against the citizens of the most populous African nation living in Hungary is indeed a blessing in disguise. Of course not many people will agree with me in this regard.

TV2 may or may not have the intention to portray us as criminals, but obviously it acted in haste. Even if TV2’s false report is an innocent error, at least every right thinking person can now discern and, or see that not all negative reports about Nigerians and Africans in general are original, true or genuine.

TV2’s error may help us enlighten ordinary Hungarians; even authorities that not all Nigerians/Africans in this beautiful country are criminals. And indeed, not all Hungarians are innocents.

We have doctors. We have lawyers. We have economists. We have communicators. We have teachers. We have Human Rights activists and so on, yet Hungarian media would rather appoint a certain jester as our spokesperson in the affairs concerning Africa.

Whilst I am not condoning crime, it is pertinent to note that crime is as old as the universe itself. A few bad eggs cannot be made to represent the whole. Let the king cut only the finger that steals; and let the king tarry a little and spare those fingers that never touch the loot.

One cannot but sympathise with the victims of this dastardly act as well as the falsely accused Nigerians. For the former it is the mental and physical torture; and for the latter it is the disgrace and the innocent shame.

That’s why it is significant for the media to always cross check and cross check before going to town. It is understatement to say that the media is powerful and influential.

Coincidentally, I recently had a presentation at Utrecht University, Netherlands on the topic “Tuning in to Diversity… Thinking Forward” where I was privileged to speak about giving migrants a voice. The world media conference organised by MIRA MEDIA among other things aims to find solution to the media negative framing about migrants.

While we are not teaching TV2 and other powerful entities their job, we employ them to always verify information, especially in this type of magnitude report that involves the image of a country and its people.

We are watching…

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