The past few weeks and months have seen a maze of uncharitable articles on Nyesom Wike rolled out from the pages of Thisday newspapers. Most of these articles appear to be hurriedly written and passed off for publishing even with the low level of conversation quality.
While I know that ThisDay has an axe to grind with Governor Wike in the courts in a N7 billion libel suit instituted by Governor Wike against the organisation which is still before the courts, I am strongly against the purpose and character of the consistent spurious and slimy attacks being hurled at politicians like Wike from the confines of editorial suites in a manner that seems to suit he who pays the piper, who seems bent on ensuring that he also dictates the tune.
In a deeply political season such as this, media houses and their owners, as well as those who work for them, should be purveyors of frank talk, truthfulness, honest politics and healthy conversations rather than picking unnecessary battles with selected politicians.
Five months ago, at the tail end of June 2022, an intensely boring article titled ‘“Weep not Wike” was published by ThisDay.
Like the other cheaply created attack articles on Wike, the article was not signed off by any author. It was a bland piece of dull literature, passed through ‘press’ for privilege, and purpose.
As usual, the article stayed on the point of Wike being a pained and aggrieved loser of the PDP presidential primaries who was ready to do anything for Atiku the winner to fail.
Recently, another unsigned article, ‘Weep not, Governor Wike’ appeared again. Still unsigned, it was a boring and bland read that must have quickly made its way through ‘press’ for privilege. The purpose of the article was the same as the first with the similar heading, to portray Wike as a disgruntled and angry politician who is still hurting from the loss of his presidential bid in 2022 and desperate to unsettle the Atiku presidential campaign.
ThisDay seems to forget that Atiku has never been a favourite of Wike. Not in 2018, 2019 or 2022 or 2023. In 2019, Wike preferred a Tambuwal over Atiku. Who knows maybe Tambuwal may have even stepped down for Atiku in 2019 if the same forces pushed him harder. I am not sure that would have changed the course and results of the 2019 presidential election.
It looks to be that the publisher of ThisDay Newspapers, Comrade Nduka Obaigbena, has an axe to grind with not a few people. A recent addition to the list includes the Tinubu Campaign Organisation and some of its media arrowheads.
In this season of politics we must do all we can to work for the growth of our democracy through deliberate checkmating of misinformation, mischievous propaganda and reckless insinuations. Nigeria deserves better and our politics must be kept as healthy as possible.
It is one thing to take sides with politics or politicians of your choice. It is another thing to aid and abet the wilful and mischievous slandering of politicians who do not agree with you, your politics and your preferred politicians.
Kerley writes from
Port Harcourt, Rivers state via [email protected]
