Section 39(1) grants every Nigerian the freedom of expression, including to hold opinions and receive and impart ideas and information without interference. Equally, section 22 bequeaths the media with the constitutional right, AT ALL TIMES, to hold government and every individual accountable to its responsibility to the people.
As a Nigerian citizen and journalist, the Daily Trust reporter has both individual and institutional constitutional rights and duty to hold persons of public interest accountable. Fani-Kayode is no longer a public office holder, but he is going round states to inspect projects to hold state governments accountable.
This is a matter of public interest. So, why denigrate a journalist and stop him from doing his job, instead of answering the simple question?
After two decades of democratic experiment, Nigerians have come to realise that a lot of our politicians are self-centred and never do anything in the public interest, except there is a benefit for them somehow. So, the journalist only wanted the public to know who is footing the bills of Fani-Kayode’s project inspection round the states. If he is the one, he should state so. We need to know.
The reporter has done nothing wrong and Daily Trust should be proud of its reporter for asking such an important question, out of the many who attended that press briefing.
Fani-Kayode’s outburst simply points to the fact that he is hiding something and Nigerians deserve to know the truth on why he is going on the inspection trips and where the funds are coming from, and why now? Fani-Kayode never engaged in such private inspections of public projects in his time in government, when he had all the public resources at his disposal? So, that is a question that he should answer.
In the public interest, a journalist can ask every and all question, and uncover whatever someone is seeking to hide, so long as it is in public interest. So, no, Fani Kayode, there are no “stupid questions” in journalism. So, what the Daily Trust reporter did is in order. Not even the president is exempted from public scrutiny by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, except immunity from legal proceedings. So, if the number one citizen is not exempted from being held accountable, no one can be exempted.
Anyone who watched the two minutes plus footage of the scene knows that Fani-Kayode is hiding something; and he does not want anyone to know who is sponsoring his trips. Why? That is another question he would have to answer.
And it is an insult for Fani-Kayode to think that all journalists at the press conference were there for pittance “brown envelopes”. That was why he accused the Daily Trust reporter of being paid to ask the question. Well, the Daily Trust journalist has shown that not all journalists who attend press conferences are there for brown envelopes and that some are actually there to do their jobs. And I know many who do not, and will never accept gratifications, before or after doing their jobs.
Shamefully, some of the journalists at the press conference could be heard apologising to Fani-Kayode. For what, except for Fani-Kayode’s insinuations to the “brown envelope” and it appears that they were afraid that his anger will cause them to lose whatever pittance there is to get from the trip. I know many people will be disappointed at that aspect, especially journalists with an altruistic passion for the job, and those who hold journalism in high esteem, and as a public trust.
All said and done, it is Fani-Kayode who should apologise. He should answer the simple question and tell Nigerians where the funds are coming from and why he is going round states inspecting public projects at this time. The NUJ must take strong measures to avert such attacks on press freedom and to the Nigerian journalists.
Dr. Sharafa Dauda, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri
