Proscription as a Tool of Military Dictatorial Means of Conflict Management in Nigeria: The Case of Newswatch Magazine Proscription

Authors

  • I.W. Udomisor University of Maiduguri
  • Emmanuel Udo-udo Ibekwe

Keywords:

Proscription, Conflict, Resolution, Tool, Newswatch

Abstract

This study is about Government –Media relationship. It is a fact that the media, as purveyors of information, perform certain ascribed roles and functions in the society. They provide information and keep watch on activities of the government and its functionaries, and correct uncomplimentary occurrences; they interpret information about events in the environment; they transmit knowledge, values, and social norms from generation to generation; and they also entertain their audience. In exercising these responsibilities, the media have often found themselves on collision course with the government and its functionaries, thus creating conflict. This situation is most apparent during authoritarian regimes, of which military dictatorship is the most obvious form. Nigeria and its media have experienced this. The study drew its data entirely from Secondary sources and discovered that the General Abacha led government was the most repressive of all military regimes in Nigeria, and can only be compared to General Buhari’s and Babangid’s clamp down on the media and its personnel.

The study shows that the media in Nigeria passed through horrible periods in the hands of military regimes beginning with the first military government to General Sani Abacha and General Ibrahim Babangida regimes. It concluded that journalists who find themselves and the mediums they work for as a party in conflict should cultivate and develop attitude, belief and power through which they will develop resilient posture for enduring pains and taking risks as demanded by journalism practice.

 

 

References

• Adeyemi, A (1995. The Nigerian Press Under the military: Persecution resilience and Political Crisis: Discussion Paper D-20: Joan Shornstein Center, John F. Kennedy School of Government USA.

• Ajaero, Chris (2011). Newswatch in New hands. Newswatch Magazine, 8 May, 2011 Ikeja: Newswatch Communication Ltd.

• Akinfeleye, Raph (1988). Contemporary Issues in Mass Media for development and security. Lagos: Unimedia

• Akoni, Olasunkanmi (2011). Jimoh Ibrahim Acquires Newswatch Magazine. Vanguard Newspaper, 5 May 2011. Lagos: Vanguard Media Limited.

• Barton, F. (1979). The Press of Africa. London: Macmillian Publishers.

• Bettinghaus, Erwin P. (1980). Persuasive Communication. New York: Holt and Rinehart Publications.

• Botess, J. (1996) Journalism and conflict Resolution. In: Media Development Journal, vol. XLIII,No.4

• Daramola, I. (2003). Introduction to Mass Communication, Lagos, Rothan Press Ltd.

• Ekewelie, .. (1979). The Nigerian Press under military rule. Gazette. Vo1.25, No. 4, p. 219 – 232.

• Emmet, Dorothy (1954). The concept of power, In: Proceedings on the Aristotelian Society News Series; Vol. LIV. London: Harrison and Sons

• Folarin, B. (1998). Theories of Mass communications: An Introductory text, Ibdadn, Stirling-Horden Publishers Ltd.

• Graybill, Lyn S. and Thompson, Kenneth W. (1998). Africa's second wave of freedom: development, democracy and rights, University press of America: White Burkett Miller Centre.

• http://againstbabangida.com//babangida-as-a-frend-of- the press. htm.

• Garba, Ibrahim (2002). Conflict in Democracies In: U.A. Pate (ed), Introduction to conflict Reporting in Nigeria. Lagos: Frankard Publishers, pp18-29.

• Ofor, C. (2004). Nigerian Press Review: Trends and Prospects, Port-Harcourt, Penpower Communication Ltd.

• Pate, U. A. (2002). Introduction. In: U. A. Pate (ed) Introduction to Conflict Reporting in Nigeria. Lagos: Frankad Publishers .

• The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

• Udomisor, I.W. (1997). Broadcasting As Educational Tool For Intellectual Development. Educational Forum, vol. 3, No; pp 122-128

• Udomisor, I. W. (2002). Problem and prospects of reporting conflict in a democracy: The Editors' challenge. In: U. A. Pate (ed), Introduction to conflict reporting in Nigeria. Lagos: Frankad publishers. P. 84-98

• Udomisor, I.W. (2013). Media as a Party in conflict, Conflict Management and Resolution: The case of South Africa. International Journal of management Sciences, vol. 1, NO.7 Research Academy of Social Sciences, pp. 245 - 253.

• Udomisor, I. W and Anayo, Opara Sylvester (2013). A critique of the performance of the Nigerian press in the current Democratic Dispensation. International Journal of Management Sciences, Vol. I, No. 8 pp. 24- 29 Research Academy of Social Sciences, pp. 272 – 281.

• Ugboayah, Frank O. (1976). Nigerian Mass communication Trends in the Africa Context, Gazettes, Vol. XXII, No.3. Pp. 156 -168.

• Uko, Ndaeyo, (2002). History and the Press: a case study of Australia and Nigeria†etropic Electronic Journal of muilidisciplary studies in the tropic, Vol. 1, No. 2 (2002) Retrieved 7/3/2014.

• Yadav, L.B (2001). Role of Media in Promoting Good Governance. Presented at a Telegraph Weekly/FES National level Media Seminar on December 20, 2001 in Kathmandu.

Downloads

Published

2014-12-15

How to Cite

Udomisor, I., & Ibekwe, E. U.- udo. (2014). Proscription as a Tool of Military Dictatorial Means of Conflict Management in Nigeria: The Case of Newswatch Magazine Proscription. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(6). Retrieved from https://www.ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/1464