TIGed

Switch headers Switch to TIGweb.org

Are you an TIG Member?
Click here to switch to TIGweb.org

HomeHomeExpress YourselfPanoramaKilling Brands Without Daggers .... The Emerging Culture of Silencing Plurality
Panorama
a TakingITGlobal online publication
Search



(Advanced Search)

Panorama Home
Issue Archive
Current Issue
Next Issue
Featured Writer
TIG Magazine
Writings
Opinion
Interview
Short Story
Poetry
Experiences
My Content
Edit
Submit
Guidelines
Killing Brands Without Daggers .... The Emerging Culture of Silencing Plurality Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Iganmode, Nigeria Sep 12, 2005
Peace & Conflict , Culture   Opinions
 1 2 3   Next page »

  

I have been following with keen interest the very stimulating and informed commentary of various newspapers columnists and other concerned Nigerians on the debt forgiveness recently granted to Nigeria by some of its debtors. Against the dramatic conclusion made by the Minister for Finance, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, that the recent debt forgiveness deal means second independence for the country, some Nigerians also justifiably contend that this deal can best be described as internet-age voluntary enslavement or consensual rape of our national pride.

As should be expected the President Obasanjo and the “team of technocrats” take strong exception to the allegation that they have mortgaged the future of generations yet unborn with the Paris Club deal. The government, in a predictable move to defend its position, orchestrated a nationwide and global celebration that was targeted at positioning the assumed forgiveness of 18 billion dollars out of Nigeria's debts as a great feat that is in our common interest as a nation. As critical as I am about the praise-singing tendencies of most Nigerians I am impressed that some Nigerians were courageous enough to publicly critique the debt forgiveness deal. Without mentioning names this class of Nigerians, with some being very prominent public figures proved that they will definitely not do or say anything unbecoming or unimaginable in order to keep their jobs or remain in the so called good books of government functionaries that are detached from the realities that confront ordinary Nigerians.

I have made the above assertions against the background of the special dinner that Corporate Nigeria organized for Minister of Finance and their extremely appreciative courtesy visit to the President in Aso Rock. Also more vexatious was the apology that ThisDay rendered to some sacred cows in the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, on the back page of its edition of Monday, August 1, 2005. ThisDay newspaper rendered the apology in question in response to an article that critiqued the economic models and theories of the economic kitchen cabinet of the President Obasanjo’s government.

I am tempted to believe that this apology was tendered in a bid to protect the business and political interests of the medium's Publisher who deserves commendation though for still having justified iconoclasts such as Simon Kolawole, Segun Adeniyi etal as staff and columnists on his payroll. Rather than rendering apology for the piece written by Otunba Babasola Williams, which I assume to be fair comment, I would have preferred my highly revered ThisDay Editorial team to avail allegedly aggrieved personalities in government space for a rejoinder in the newspaper.

These government functionaries in a worse case scenario can also resort to the law court to file for libel in order to protect their highly guarded reputation. I must confess that I, and other loyal readers and passive stakeholders in the reputation, that has taken ThisDay over ten years to nurture felt affronted that our darling newspaper took it upon itself to apologize for an opinion piece done by a Nigerian who is not on its your payroll. I know with strong conviction that the Washington Post and New York Times will never subjugate their cherished reputation and excellent perception by informed readers to the predictably transient favorable perception of an incumbent administration.

Nigerians that have had the courage to air their views on the debate on debt forgiveness have helped to properly position the discipline of economics as a social science that thrives on plural views and experiences of its proponents. Without sounding offensive, permit me to affirm that majority of the policies of the Obasanjo government on the economic front are driven by intellectual arrogance and extreme narrow-mindedness. Those at the helm of affairs of this government have allowed themselves to be carried away by the assumed ''impeccable'' resume and work experience of members of its economic team with imperial multi-lateral financial institutions. The mind-set of this administration is that its economic eggheads are beyond reproach and their views on the economy are sacrosanct.

Though I work in the Finance sector I appreciate deeply the great success that people, like Simon Kolawole, of ThisDay have achieved in helping to demystify basic and sometimes complex economic concepts for the benefit of the ordinary Nigerian. This by my reckoning is the social intermediation role that journalists should play in helping to democratize information about government policies at all levels. The government needs to appreciate that the best way to sell its policies to Nigerians is to create an atmosphere for these policies to be critiqued freely by Nigerians with contrary views.

The government creates room for justified suspicion when all we hear from most of its functionaries are intellectually barren comments that attempt to brand proponents of opposing views as unpatriotic or misguided Nigerians.





 1 2 3   Next page »   


Tags

You must be logged in to add tags.

Writer Profile
Iganmode


I work presently as Head,Strategy and Clients Service with Bluebird Communications Limited, a leading integrated marketing communications consultancy based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Before Bluebird I worked as a Product Manager in the Consumer and Retail Banking Department of Afribank Nigeria Plc. I joined the Bank on the 15th of November 1999 after garnering rich experience in journalism, advertising, public relations and marketing. I have in the last five years had the opportunity of Heading Units such as Media/Investors Relations, Internal Communications and Publications and Advertising and Corporate Promotions in the Corporate Affairs Department of the Bank. I edited Afribank News, the Bank’s quarterly house journal between January 2002 and June 2003 and was also responsible for launching content of the magazine on the Bank’s website.

I started my career in Journalism with the Vanguard Newspapers as a Reporter on the Literary Desk of the national newspaper in 1990 and joined the services of Rosabel Advertising Limited in October 1991 as a Trainee Executive in the Media Department. During my stint in the Media Department of this highbrow agency I undertook schedules such as media planning, buying, monitoring and comparative rating of media audience.

I returned to the print media in 1995 by taking employment with the Guardian Newspapers as Editorial Supplement Executive. I, in this capacity combined successfully the onerous schedule of writing news and features regularly on various business sectors and marketing newspapers in The Guardian stable for profitability and acceptance. The Vanguard Newspaper again beckoned on me in 1997 to join the pioneering team of professionals that established the newspaper's editorial supplement Desk as a Senior Supplement’s Reporter. After a very brief stint with Vanguard Newspapers I took up employment with Tanus Communications Limited, a full-fledged marketing communications company, as a Senior Media Relations Officer.

While in the Media Relations Department of Tanus Communications, I consulted for several companies in the areas of media and public relations, press a gentry, events and issues management, publishing, monitoring and evaluation of media/public perception of issues, advertising campaign planning and monitoring etc. Prominent among the companies I consulted for were Union Bank Plc, Chartered Bank Plc, NAL Merchant Bank, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mobil, NICON Insurance, and Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Petroleum Special Trust Fund (PTF) etc. I was promoted as the Head of the dynamic department, before I left the firm to join Afribank Nigeria Plc in November 1999.

I am a 1994 graduate of Mass Communications from the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta and also bagged a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree in the Upper Class category from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in 2001. I am a qualified Associate Member of industry relevant professional associations such as the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

I love reading, writing, surfing the web, watching films and discussing issues with contemporary and global relevance. I have been writing poems with different themes for over a decade and plan to publish my collection in the no distant future . I am married to an Industrial Chemist and we are blessed with two kids aged 4 and 2 respectively. I am the current President of Vision Club, an investment and leadership development-driven association of young and upwardly mobile professionals in the public and private sector.

Omo'ba Olumide Olalekan Idowu
Bluebird Communications Limited, Lagos, Nigeria
( Mobile) : 08023236493 ,
Website:www.freewebs.com/olumideidowu
E–Mail: o.idowu@afribank.com or mideidowu@yahoo.com
Web Resume Page: http://olumide.resume.4t.com
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.