Between Media Propaganda And Blackmail
Most often people and the society have kept dwelling on propaganda and blackmail without actually trying to distinguish both, as they are and cannot be or mean the same thing.
However, for the benefit of doubt of those who do not know, propaganda simply means: ideas or statements that may be false or exaggerated that are used in order to gain support for a political leader, party etc.
And blackmail in its own means; the crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell or reveal certain secret about him. This means the act of putting pressure on a person or a group to do what they do not want to do.
A cursory look at the two above will help as well as educate people especially writers on the choice of words and the proper use of languages.
This also will easily call to mind when all manner of people because they can write ascribe to themselves as Journalists. That is absolutely wrong. So, people should learn to act with decorum especially when writing knowing full well that journalism has its ethics and code of conduct.
People again should not take the lukewarm attitude of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) in flushing out quacks in the profession for granted.
Otherwise, how can anybody who did not have any training in Mass Communication brand himself as a Journalist simply because he can pick up a biro to write.
Again, how can any sensitive Government appoint a journey man as its image maker in this modern society without any verifiable training in Journalism.
This is the albatross of most known and unknown establishments who in the cause of getting an image maker end up having an image damager. You do not blame such characters because they cannot offer what they do not have.
A typical example of this ugly situation is like hiring a Professor of English Language to come and defend somebody in the Law Court. If he escapes being flushed out of the court, he will end up speaking big, big grammar without making any point at the end of the day.
It is therefore instructive for people to look at the antecedents, background and professional know- how of people they hire for specific professional jobs. Overlooking this important criteria has always boomeranged at the detriment of the principal.
Writing and speaking are acts and gifts which are absolutely different from Journalism because, Journalism is a profession even though it appears to be an all comers affairs.
The Need to Educate Security Agencies During this Christmas Season
Christmas period to Christians and non Christians is seen as a festive period when people from all work of life travel to meet their loved ones in a joyful mood for the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is with utmost pleasure that I write to bring to the notice of the state government and Federal Government on the need to educate the police men, Army, customs and other related security agencies on their roles and expectations of the public from them in order to make this year’s yuletide a memorable one.
This is particularly in reference to illegal extortion, brutality and ill-treatments usually meted out to poor passengers and bus drivers by these security agencies.
Permit me to say that men of the force who are entrusted with the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry of Nigeria have turn-out to be thorns in the flesh, terrorizing commuters with illegal detention and most times at gun point, to part with fifty naira (50) for the police and one hundred naira for the Army.
Recently around Owerri/Onitcha express way, an eye witness saw a police man drop his gun and cap to face a taxi driver in physical combat that drew the attention of passers-by. A passer-by another officer of the law who approached the scene of the event, discovered that the taxi man was asked to “Rogger” but he refused which caused the fight. What a disgrace?
The question begging for answer is “Does it mean that road extortions by the security agencies has become legal and appropriate”? Some are asking if the police do not receive their salaries any more?
Sir, after witnessing this shameful episode, I began to wonder how the Government is planning to ameliorate the re-occurrence of such absurdity. Meanwhile, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has for long began the beautification of Owrri in preparation for Christmas season. Among the places beautified include; the Okigwe road round-about adjacent Government House Axis, and Freedom square. Anybody that moves around the area at night will vividly know that fortune has been spent there. How about the effective security for the masses?
Similarly, every passionate, caring, God-fearing leader must set the priority of securing the lives and properties of its masses first” I therefore use this medium to ask the government, federal and state to conduct a seminar for members of the police force, Army, Civil Defence, Road safety and other agents of government on the need to focus on their job with patriotism to help make this yuletide a memorable one.
By Onyekachi Eze
