How can the media improve the community?

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Many people agree with the saying that information is power. Anyone who has information has power, which explains why people are always seeking for information because an informed citizenry is an asset to the community. And if this is true, as in deed it is, then the media, the vehicle through which this information which is the source of power is conveyed to the people is important.

Experts agree that there are few things which impact the human mind more than the mass media. The advice of teachers, parents and relatives may fall on deaf ears, but the media influence on the community, particularly on the young members of the community, is very strong.

So, what is the media and giving its very important role in the community, how can it be used to promote, rather than undermine community development?

Though the term media can be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies, in general, media refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media used as a means of mass communication. Simply put, media refers to the form and technology used to communicate information.

As stated earlier, the influence of the media on the community is enormous. The significance of communication for human life cannot be overestimated. This is true because just like the physical requirements of food and shelter, we all need to communicate with each other. This urge for communication is primary and a necessity for the survival of every community. Experts agree that without communication, no society can exist, not to talk of developing and surviving.

Therefore, for the existence as well as development of any community, communication is fundamental and hence the importance of the media.

The media improves the community by performing its functions of educating the masses, entertaining and mobilising the people. The mobilisation function is particularly important to developing communities because it helps to bring people together and helps to advance communal cause. The media if well used develops a sense of community among the people. While the government uses the media to tell the people what they are doing, the people can also communicate to the government what they really want by writing letters to the editors of newspapers, opinion articles or participating in radio and television programmes.

By facilitating community education, the media also creates awareness in the community. The media can mobilise the people to support causes that will advance their well-being. This is particularly so in democratic communities. The media plays a very important role during elections as was recently held in Nigeria, by enhancing voter education and mobilising the people to perform their civic responsibility.

Through its entertainment functions, the media helps in creating conducive environments in communities that can facilitate harmonious living. The cultures and values of the community can be sustained by the media and by so doing, they can help in keeping the communities strong and united. This is particularly important to the youth who rely so much on the media for their education. Because the media plays a significant role in forming and influencing people’s attitudes and behaviour, it can be a very positive influence in community development.

But it also needs to be pointed out that when the media is manipulated or used in promoting selfish interests rather than common good, the consequence could be disastrous. Like it has happened in many African countries, some bad leaders have used the media in promoting ethnic hatred that resulted in the killing of many people.

The implication, therefore, is that care must be taken by media practitioners and managers to ensure that what is communicated to the people are materials that will educate, entertain and promote social cohesion, rather than destroy either the youths or the community. When used properly, the media remains the most potent weapon for community development. The people are better informed about issues concerning their community and they, in turn, are motivated to contribute their own quota to such development.

In other words, the media helps in channelling the energies and talents of the people towards community development. This it does by setting the agenda. Perhaps, that explains why most radio, television stations and even newspapers now are community-based.

 

Does DCP Danjuma Deserve Bail?

A year and two months ago, precisely on June 8, 2005, Nigerians woke up to the reality of an ugly spectacle. Some policemen in the Federal Capital Territory conspired to gruesomely murder six young Nigerians (five boys, all motor spare parts traders at the Apo Mechanic Village and a lady) without any reason whatsoever. Having worked so hard in the day to earn a decent living, the victims ostensibly had taken some time off that night clubbing. On their way back, they ran into a road block mounted by the police, who are supposed to be their friends, but who as always turned out to be their worst enemies. That was the beginning of the sad story that transfixed the nation and appalled all decent minds the world over. The six young people were summarily executed. That wont be the first time policemen would waste innocent lives for no just cause in this country. In fact, it was not the first time that they would be killing such number of innocent people in one fell swoop. But there was something about the killing of these young people that came to be known as “Apo Six” that rankled badly. The deliberateness of the action was confounding. The killings were slow, careful and methodical. It was about the worst episode of needless and criminal bloodletting in the country in recent times. So bestial was the act that a country with a soul long deadened by all manner of atrocities, was for once scandalized.  Nigerians that are never shocked by any crime no matter how atrocious, hideous and awful were roused from their lethargic slumber this time around because of the bestiality of the police officers. So callous were the wild animals in police uniform that they reportedly drove a six-inch nail through the nose of the only female victim, Augustina Arebum before finally twisting her neck and strangulating her.

And after all these, they did what they know how best to do — labeling the dead armed robbers. It took the tenacity of the Igbo community in Abuja to arouse the conscience of fellow citizens to this heinous crime and the nation was wheedled into action. So evil was the crime that the Police High Command indicted its officers after probing the case and finding them culpable. The indictment was unprecedented. So remorseful were the police that they had to foot the burial expenses of the six victims. The Federal Government also set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, which duly completed its work and could not help but agree with the police panel that the accused were guilty as charged. But being a commission of inquiry, it had no powers to sanction, but the report was so damning that the accused were charged to court.A year and two months after this welter of incontrovertible evidence had been gathered, the case is not only still in court, two of the accused, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Danjuma and Police Constable Emmanuel Acheneje were granted bail on Wednesday, August 2 by Justice Isaq Bello of Abuja High Court. The two were admitted to bail on medical ground. While Danjuma is said to be suffering from diabetes, ulcer and heart problem, Acheneje is said to have contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and in the Justice’s opinion, granting Bello bail would enable him seek adequate medical treatment while that of Acheneje was predicated on the excuse that he could afflict other inmates with other ailments, which come with HIV/AIDS. And you would have thought that if for any reason whatsoever, such a man standing trial for so dreadful a crime is to be granted bail, the conditions would be so stringent, particularly bearing in mind that Danjuma had made several attempts in the past to escape from detention and also the fact that one of the principal suspects, Othman Abdulsalam, the DPO of Garki Police Station at the time the crime was committed escaped from the police detention facility and is still on the run. No! The bail was only the axiomatic slap on the wrist. Apart from his N2 million bail condition, Danjuma is only expected to produce two sureties in like sum, one of them being a former Inspector General of Police and a director in the civil service in the case of Acheneje. What did Danjuma do to achieve this stunning feat? He pulled the collapsing stunt twice in court.The trial judge knew what the reaction of Nigerians to the ruling would be hence his acknowledgement of the fact that the provisions of Section 341 and 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) do not allow bail for any accused person who is being tried for capital offence punishable with death. Yet he took a judicial shelter under a Supreme Court canopy. Hear him: “The law is an agent of civilization. It is not primitive. It is on account of its civilized posture that the Supreme Court takes seriously issue of ill health as constituting a special and exceptional circumstance for the grant of bail to a person being tried for capital offence punishable with death.” And the subtle blackmail; “I will not allow sentiment to serve as a control tower in this judicial exercise or anyone at that.” I am most certain that when the Supreme Court was making the judicial pronouncement under which the court hid to grand Danjuma bail, the Justices couldn’t have imagined some people who call themselves human beings could commit the crime these accused police officers committed. If this were a country where the wheel of justice rolls without any encumbrance, Danjuma and his co-travellers on the devil’s boulevard would have had their comeuppance by now. The court said the only right that cannot be derogated is the right of an individual to life. Of course, that is given. But when that right is being sought by soulless men like Danjuma who would have no qualms whimsically denying others of the same right in a most callous manner and for no just cause, it raises a moral and ethical dilemma. Granted, the law is an agent of civilization and is not primitive. But does that apply too to those who rather behave like men in the state of nature. Even wild animals have some qualms when dealing with their own. Yet, here are people who call themselves human beings committing crimes against humanity that would even make wild beasts shudder.Not a few Nigerians believe that in spite of the hue and cry, which attended the crime when it was committed, nothing would come out of it. To such people, Danjuma’s bail is the beginning of the long road to freedom. Yet, here is a country where people who committed less grievous offences that don’t attract capital punishment are routinely refused bail. Former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who has been standing trial over money laundering offences and who is suffering from almost the same ailments, which Danjuma claims to be suffering from, was refused bail recently even on health ground. The former member of the House of Representatives, Maurice Ibekwe who was tried on the charge of advance fee fraud was severally brought to court on a wheelchair and his grave medical condition was too obvious for even the blind to see, yet, he was denied bail until he died in detention. And his offence and that of Alamieyeseigha are bailable. So what is special about Danjuma, a man who superintended the murdering in cold blood of innocent citizens being diabetic? If he escapes like his partner in crime, Othman did, what happens? Does this mean that the weak and underprivileged can never get justice in this country? If the six young men sent to their early graves were to be sons and daughters of the powers that be in this country, would Danjuma have dared ask for bail? Wouldn’t this case have been decided by now?I insist that no society, which building blocks were laid on a foundation of injustice and inequity can ever achieve greatness. It will ever remain primitive. And any people that have no value for human life, that would always whimsically destroy the ultimate gift of God will unfailingly attract the wrath of the Supreme Being.