A Book Review of Prince Tony Momoh's 'Journalism in Nigeria: So far, How Well'

Book: Journalism in Nigeria: So far, How Well Author: Prince Tony Momoh
Publisher: Media and Law Development Centre
Pages: 107
Year: 2010
Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga
(blessedbest@hotmail.com)

Prince Tony Momoh's book titled ‘Journalism in Nigeria: So Far How Well,’ takes a look into the fundamentals of the profession popularly known as the ‘Fourth Estate of the Realm.’ The former Minister of Information and Culture, a veteran journalist and lawyer appraises the field as it is being practiced in Nigeria from the colonial days to date.
The 107-page book is divided into nine parts, dealing with several subject matters. In Part One, the author makes reference to a review of journalism by Janice Castro in Microsoft Encarta (2009), and defines journalism as "the gathering, evaluating and distributing of facts of current interest." The source further posits that; "In journalism, reporters research and write stories for print and electronic distribution, often with the guidance of editors or producers. The earliest journalists produced stories for news sheets, circulars, newspapers, and periodicals. With technological advances, journalism came to include other media, such as radio, documentary or newsreel films, television, and the Internet."

This gives a vivid analysis of what journalism is, in terms of what a medium or journal is. How Nigeria's journalism began in the past from ‘Iwe Iroyin’ published in 1859 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, western Nigeria, up to the advent of Internet are part of the exciting thrusts in Part One.

Part Two, ‘Nigeria, Our Beat,’ dwells on the British amalgamation of the country. "It did not seem as if the British that put the country together wanted the people, especially the North and the South, to be integrated. But we have lived together in one piece and the various conferences, the last being the National Political Reform Conference (Feb-June, 2005), has shown that no Nigerian canvasses a break-up of the country," the author states.
But Momoh put forward a poser; "Since we know that we have Nigeria in mind in looking at journalism as practised in it, let us ask: which Nigeria?" Answering his own question, the author notes that a professional journalist must know his beat, which is Nigeria.

Further throwing light on the essence of knowing one's beat, the author gives a historical analysis of Nigeria's political transition since 1849 when Beecroft was appointed British Consul for the Bights of Benin and Biafra; the experimentation with different forms of government; the first attempt at reflecting the disparities in Nigeria in terms of Richards Constitution in 1946 to Lyttleton Constitution of 1954. Issues commented on in Part Two include achievement of independence; military incursions into politics in Nigeria; electoral commission among others.

In Part Three titled, ‘The Constitution, Our Road Map,’ the author establishes his edge as an experienced legal advocate who is abreast with media laws. The section's concern is various parts of the Nigeria 1999 constitution. The author therein discourses the constitution as a road map that is meant to define the relationship between the different tiers of government- between the government and the people, between people and people and their roles. The duties and responsibilities of the press as stated in Section 22 of the constitution is also an area of key concern to the author. Here, Momoh seems to wonder how many Nigerian journalists are well equipped with the contents of the country's constitution.
Part Four, titled ‘Role of Journalism in the Constitution,’ is a continuation if elaborate exposition of what a well trained practicing journalist ought to know about the constitution. Such issues as fundamental obligations of government; government and the people; political, social, economic, educational, foreign policy, environmental objectives and obligation of the mass media as specified in the constitution, are the bedrock of Part Four embellished with journalistic and constitutional electricity.

‘Between Media Ownership and the Code,’ is the subject matter of Part Five concerning the constitutional right of individuals to own media house which first appeared in the 1979 constitution and its final place in section 36 (Section 39 in the 1999 constitution). Here the book throws up a classical case of 'he who pays the piper dictates the tune.' The author states: "Part of dictating the tune is the different levels of establishing control through ownership."
Momoh also raises some dust here on some issues such as bribe-taking in journalism in likeness to what Professor Ralph Akinfeleye refers to as ‘bread and butter journalism.’ Momoh notes that while gratification can be described as a wrong manner of showing gratitude, there are two sides to the coin in bribery, such as gratification and patronage. He observes that, "on the one side is the person who wants favour; and on the other is the person who is in a position to give favours."

How well the Nigerian journalists have performed their role of monitoring governance in Nigeria, is the heavenly concern of Part Six, titled ‘Journalism... How Well?’ Momoh emphasises here: "Let me repeat my belief that in this new time, the media must be refocused... I am sorry to say that the media as it is, has not shown that it is ready to service our democracy. But it must render that service."

‘But How Free The Press?’ is the poser-title of Part Seven as the author attempts a historical tour into how the Nigerian press has been facing opposition and draconian laws, from the Newspaper Act of 1917 to the Nigerian Press Council (Amendment) Decree 60, 1999 - all made by governments to gag the media. Linked to the above is Part Eight in which the author throws more light on the Freedom of Information Bill (FoIB) debate. He points out that, "There are still no-go areas in freedom of information legislation. They include national security, records of individuals, material for prosecution of offenders and trade secrets." He compares Nigeria's freedom of information situation to the India's Freedom of Information Act of 2000, and wonders why Nigeria cannot take good example from that. He also makes reference to the United States Freedom of Information Act signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 4, 1966 and urges that government should borrow a leaf from it too. However, this section of the book in terms of FoIB has been overtaken by the events of history as the bill is now a law in Nigeria’s constitution.

In the last chapter titled ‘Summary and Conclusion,’ Momoh notes that though "We will be 100 years as integrated space in 2014 we have not integrated the people of Nigeria enough to know that although in tribe and tongue they differ, in brotherhood they should stand." This is certainly a food for thought as nobody knows where the country is headed with the spate of insecurity and paradise of poverty baptising the masses from time immemorial.
Bemoaning the rising spate of violence such as killings of innocent people (including journalists), and the crises in Jos, Plateau State, the author notes that the entire society's negligence of the role of the media contributes to the oddity. "We should be in no doubt that the press can perform the role of not just a route to the transformation of our country into a viable democratic polity but that it can be an active participant in doing that national chore," the book informs.
One noticeable feature of the book is the author's eloquence. Despite the few typographic flaws noticed, the book is a very resourceful material for any journalist practising in Nigeria. It is also packaged to be of immense benefit to society.

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