Mr.NWACHUKWU NGIGE, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.
WEEKS have passed since the renewed media skirmishes that pitched my Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and his media managers against some leading columnists who are of Anambra origin. At the centre of it all is what one may refer to as an x-ray or rather, a cultivated media inquest of the leadership of the state.

And this is very important; the media being the proper instrument for gingering public values and interests while at the same time engaging popular participation in governance. It suffices that instead of allowing the government to dictate the truth, the power of the media and the unrestricted access that modern technology offers, become sure guarantee that the truth will emerge from diverse opinions.

Very often unfortunately, those in leadership may for different reasons get scared and resent dissenting opinions. Most politicians in our clime will publicly condemn Thomas Jefferson for cautioning that any “government which cannot stand up to published criticism deserves to fall”, but nothing can be farther than this.

Levi Obijiofor definitely did not have Anambra in mind but his postulations in The Guardian newspaper of Friday, October 8, 2011 illustrate better, how retrogressive, intolerance of contrary opinion could be in democracy like ours. “Popular participation in media discourse must be viewed as veritable condition for civic engagement and socio-economic development. Through discussions in newspaper spaces, for example, columnists and other contributors promote a healthy democracy and facilitate critical public assessment of performance of political leadership. Political leaders must be scrutinised to ensure they remain accountable to the society in which they serve. ”Unfortunately,” he added, “in the society in which we live, critical comments are perceived as instruments designed to destroy the careers of politicians and public office holders”. No doubt, in every criticism, there is a lesson.

It is for this reason that I insist that the Val Obienyes, the Uche Ezechukwus, the Ejike Anyadubas and other hired columnists on the one hand and the Okey Ndibes, the Adinubas and others should fire more shots so that our people will decipher the truth. Let there be neither ceasefire nor attempt to gag.

Is it not Lord Louis Brandeis of the United States who declared that “freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensible to the discovery and spread of political truth”. But let me warn these combatants. Ndi-Anambra need the facts and not name-calling or panjandrum (apologies to the legendry Zik of Africa) as Governor Obi’s press agentry often takes.

It is good to state for avoidance of doubt that nobody in his right senses will launch attack on the person of the Governor of Anambra State. The seat he occupies is neither his nor that of his political party; it belongs to the people of Anambra State. Therefore, any personal attack on him is an assault on our collective dignity. He needs our prayers and support to succeed.

Importantly too, I sincerely think we all need to adjust to an era where laisser-faire to issues of governance has given way to popular participation. The return of democracy in 1999 which was additionally buoyed in our state by the pyrrhic overthrow of the forces of godfatherism on July 10, 2003 by Dr. Chris Ngige, brought about renewed interest in governance. The hitherto uninterested intellectuals, even complacent ordinary citizens, now seek to know the goings-on in the government of their state.

Engaging the platform readily provided by the independent media to keep the government accountable is therefore expected.

Many quite expect that this increased tempo in critical participation should be at tandem with the character formation agenda which is oozing with furious monotony from Governor Obi’s propaganda machine. For the locals in Anambra, nothing bears the weird propaganda inclination of the state government than the barbaric and antediluvian broadcast recipe of the Anambra Broadcasting Service. How then do we take the message of character formation to the grassroots?

The values in character formation will spread like wild fire if they manifest on the state government’s attitude to criticism. It must reflect in its relationship with other Anambrarians who don’t belong to the same political hue. Till today, the experience from the last general elections remains such a sore in the minds of many.

Some statements then credited to the Governor and members of his government were not only undialectical but un-statesmanly. The denominational schism which his style of politics introduced to the state remains an unfortunate time bomb. These are certainly not exercises in character formation.

It is a well considered view that a government that enjoys the mandate of the people, especially in a state as homogenous and contiguous as Anambra, should show more maturity, tolerance and understanding. It should defend itself by confronting criticisms with facts rather than resort to grotesque naked dance as evident in various essays from his aides.

Though I accept the easiest form of media criticism, especially in Nigeria, is to carpet those in power, however, the sanctity of the authority reposed in a government that embodies the wishes of the people, orbits in measured and matured response to genuine criticisms or even pure malfeasance. Government is a trust as well as a burden.

Efforts to frontload attacks so as to publicly weaken the moral praxis of opponent rather than take issues to the front burner will normally end up exposing sloppiness or naivety, thus making such government more vulnerable before persons with discerning minds.