Bauchi Gov backs media roles in building democratic culture,

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has commended the role played by the Nigerian Media in building democratic culture, institutions and practices in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.

The Governor was speaking in Abuja on Thursday 25th May 2023 when he chaired a public presentation of a book on the role of the “ Media and Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy: Threats, Constraints and Resilience organized by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought.

The Governor who performed the double role as the Chairman and Chief Presenter of the groundbreaking book was represented at the event by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Comrade Mukhtar Gidado.

Bala Mohammed thanked the organizers, authors and editors of the book for a well-researched scholarly endeavour which has a direct practical bearing on media development and the Nigerian democracy

He reminded the gathering how the Media supports the sustenance of our current democratic enterprise; how politicians relate to the Media while in office; and the problematic relationship between politics, politicians and the media when their interests diverge.

He further lamented that the current debate in Nigeria regarding the place of the media in Nigeria’s democratic transformation and consolidation relates to the role of the media in empowering civic spaces and strengthening democratic governance and the challenges the media face in engaging in such undertakings.

According to him, “ It is a known fact that politicians can sometimes be excessive in trying to constrain the media and in turn the media, especially in this age of new and social media, can be excessive, intolerant and volatile in defence of its space or territory.”

He then called on practitioners of both domains to continually advocate for dialogue which will stimulate understanding, tolerance, respect and the spirit of give and take for the greater public good.

In his concluding remarks, the Governor called on politicians, journalists and other Nigerians to make good use of the book and caution practitioners to shunt away biased reporting of events and remain steadfast with their professional calling.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Host, Dr Sam Amadi applauded Governor Bala Mohammed for his media-friendly disposition and more on an account of being a media practitioner and a politician which reflects the essential concern and trust of the book.

Dr Amadi analyzes how the media is navigating Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, and its mediated democracy.  He said despite its constitutional role, recognizable as the fourth estate of the realm, the Nigerian media has a history of confronting daunting challenges headlong.

The book written by Paul Obi was reviewed by professor Abiodun Adeniyi and the event was attended by renowned politicians, diplomats and media practitioners as contained in a statement by Mukhtar Gidado, Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor.