One week ago, journalism in Nigeria stabbed itself in the stomach. About 50 journalists travelled to the palatial home of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), a brutal and treacherous former leader who wants another chance to be a brutal and treacherous leader.

As if he is a king who does not leave his palace, IBB enticed the journalists to his lair, choosing not to meet them in public or in daylight. Once in his clutches, he gave them a serve-serving praise speech about how important they are. And then he gave them “transport” fare: 10 million Naira, we learned.

Scandalously, the only dispute is whether IBB gave each of the journalists 10 million Naira. None of the journalists in attendance who called SaharaReporters to “protest” our report of the midnight madness has denied receiving some “transport fare.”

IBB is an important political figure. If he is running for office, we say: good for him. And we concede that he should be fairly reported like every other politician.

But IBB is no political newcomer. An alter server he is not. He is no Boy Scout. He has ruled in the past, and his record is both of leaving Nigerians (including friends, enemies and journalists) in grief and despair; and Nigeria in tumult and disrepair.

This is why his candidacy for further public office has become a lightning rod of controversy. It is also why it ought to have been obvious even to the most inexperienced journalist that covering IBB must be done by the book.

The obvious, regrettably, is not often so when hidden agendas are involved. And so, against better judgment, many Nigerian journalists headed for IBB’s showpiece complex in Minna at midnight.

That is why they all took time—journalists in the line of duty—to write IBB lyrical little lines on a birthday card, as if they had left their homes and newsrooms to attend a birthday bash. [We wonder what birthday rhyme they sang for him, but there is no word on that at the moment!]

That is why they took time—journalists who should have been rushing off to meet deadlines with big IBB headlines—to hang around pillars built on blood to take pictures with the treacherous and discredited politician.

Not surprisingly, the following day’s reports did not have such important headlines. The reason for that is simple: the so-called no-holds-barred questions were never asked of IBB. That goes to show that 10 million Naira, or the promise of such largesse, can indeed leave all holds barred!


In our view, the press event in IBB’s home was a sham designed to provide “legitimate” opportunity for IBB—who is running a flagging, failing presidential campaign—to purchase journalists for his own political use.

Today, The Punch fired Mr. Adebolu Arowolo, an editor, having established he lacked official clearance. We commend the management of that enterprise for doing the right thing.

The question is whether the Nigeria mainstream media has true professional pride. If it does, practitioners ought to know that the first thing it owes the public is credibility. And if credibility matters to the media, publishers and media managers ought to have been out and about since the Minna Mess apologizing to the public, returning IBB’s money to him, and firing the errant journalists.

Those media houses that were represented in IBB’s midnight manipulation, and which choose to ignore the matter, must be conscious of the fact that the public may well believe that IBB has already bought their management. The public can choose to believe that the money IBB gave to the journalist present has been shared with his superiors. We do not think this is a risk any self-respecting journalist or publisher should take.

It is tragic to think that the public and—in the age of the Internet—the world are left to ponder not whether IBB paid out “transport fare,” but how much, and to whom. And beyond “transport fare” to IBB’s guests, who paid their accommodation and other expenses in Abuja and Minna?

We've never questioned the need for Nigerian journalists to meet or conduct their business with anyone who is newsworthy. That is the way it should be.

But it does not take a crowd, or midnight, to report the news. Furthermore, the news can and ought to be reported without treating the subject as though he is a hero or a celebrity.

Most of all, a journalist does not seek, or accept, alms. A true journalist does not accept gratification because it puts monetary value on the news. A journalist that accepts gifts is a journalist that sells the news. A journalism founded on a midnight principle of cash-for-coverage is a journalism that sells Nigerians into slavery.


http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/sr-comments-journalists-ibb%E2%80%99s-trap

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