Nigerian Tribune Newspaper’s Unfortunate Descent
Apr 22nd, 2009 | By admin | Category: Letter To The Editor, NEWS
Gentlemen,
I am very sad at writing you on this issue. It is about my observations about the The Tribune Newspapers in recent times which seem to have yielded it’s platform to agents of neo-colonialism and reactionary forces within the Nigeria political space to strut their trade.
This is a Newspaper established by the late Sage himself, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to propagate his ideals and politics of abundant life for all. The Newspaper served as a veritable mouthpiece for proponents of true federalism, free education, free health, welfarism and other progressive ideas that Chief Awolowo stood for in his life time.
For his uncompromising stand on these ideals and philosophies of progressive governance, Awo suffered untold persecution in the hands of the feudalists and their ever willing collaborators in the Southwest, culminating in his unjust imprisonment.
For many of us who were not born in the 1960s, we read of his exploits and particularly his travails, all because he was fighting for a brighter future for Nigerians.
I particularly was moved to tears when i read his book “MY MARCH THROUGH PRISON”, some of the humiliations and even personal trajedy of the loss of a son while in prison, all because he would not compromise our future for a pot of porridge like some politicians of today. Many of them who claim to be his proteges have sold out to the camp of the Conservatives whom he stood against all his life.
But by far the saddest and the most tragic in my estimation is The Tribune Newspaper, which has unbelievably turned itself into an unofficial mouthpiece, particularly for the agents of reaction and ultra-conservatives in the Southwest.
In the times past, i used to follow Uncle Bola Ige’s column in the Tribunes until the Conservatives in the PDP cut him down, all in their evil bid to overun the Southwest and obliterate everything Papa Awo stood for in his lifetime. It is this nest of killers that The Tribune is now siding with. It is a tragedy of monumental proportions .
In the on-going battle to reclaim our progressive heritage back from the hands of PDP marauders led by Olusegun Obasanjo, it is on record that rather than stand up to be counted on the side of the people in this trying times, The Tribunes has rather been giving wide coverage and visibility to the Conservative elements in Yoruba land. As a matter of fact, it is about the only Newspaper that is boldly displaying the Campaign advert of PDP’s Segun Oni in the run up to this weekend’s election re-run in Ekiti State.
But by far the most riling and unfortunate of it all is the Newspaper’s Editorial of today 22nd April 2009 titled “OSUN GUBER RACE: A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE ? “
In the said editorial, the Tribune literally turned itself to PDP and Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s megaphone by openly questioning the Ibadan Appeal Court’s ruling on the A.C.’s Aregbesola’s appeal which ordered a re-trial of the petition at a yet-to-be-constituted new tribunal on the ground inter alia that some vital evidence of the appellant was wrongly denied admissibility at the earlier Tribunal.
Tribune’s grouse was on a recent claim by the Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro that the much talked about Police Report sought to be tendered by A.C’s Aregbesola was forged, a claim that is also being roundly condemned as an afterthought on the part of the IGP.
Granted that a Newspaper can chose to give prominence to certain political tendencies over others, it has been said that it is good news reporting, to give both parties to a story the benefit of airing their own views. Within this context, one can excuse The Tribune for whatever mileage it is giving to PDP elements in it’s reporting. I leave others to judge whether it has achieved balancing in this regard,vis-a-vis it’s treatment of the progressives.
The Tribune’s betrayal of our common cause is so sad and should rank as one the biggest tragedies in Nigerian history.
But what is not contestable is the fact that the choice of an Editorial is a deliberate one and a reflection of the thoughts and philosophical leanings of a Newspaper.
I often wondered that, Were Uncle Bola Ige to still be alive, whether The Tribune would have descended to it’s current state. I also know that both Senator Femi Okunrounmu and Mr Bamidele Aturu are columnists in the Newpaper, but i wouldn’t know the extent of their influence on editorial matters or whether they are even members of the Editorial Board. Because as far as we know, these are people who have always fought on the side of the Nigerian people against the retrogressive politics of the PDP controlled Federal Governments and have not sold out.
I don’t claim to be versed in the economics of Newspaper publishing, but if like any product and service, acceptability and patronage has effect on profitability, i am sure The Tribune must be feeling the effect of this betrayal on their financial bottomline now. This is because like so many of my friends who feel this same way, I can’t imagine myself buying The Tribune Newspaper again, I’ll rather buy The Punch, The Nation or even The Daily Trust.
Olusegun Adeyeye
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
fatai (478)
muideenshina (310)
Tejumola Lateef A... (257)
Babamatto (244)
Comrade Nurain Ad... (171)
Mustapha Adebayo (164)
Adegboyega semiu (154)
Moshood Oni (147)
Olufemi Longe (133)
OYELEYE E.A(WARD ... (120)
Bello Jamiu (106)
kareem lukuman (94)
Balogun Mawuton(B... (80)
Alao Adediran (70)
laolu (51)
ayobami ogunleye(... (50)
Omolebi (41)
weightloss pills (33)
Rabb Adebiyi (26)
toyin (16)
i am not surprised at this because i know tribune to be government’s own newspaper and that is why i dont waste my time reading it and i dont waste my money buying it. instead, i always go for daily-sun, the nation and osun defender. let them keep spreading the wrong news, what will be will be.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=141484
Right information.
Information is said to be # a message received and understood
# knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction
# formal accusation of a crime
# a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn; “statistical data”
# a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome; “the signal contained thousands of bits of information” .
Please,always give people right information so as not to destroy them cos people perish when they lack understanding.
why should we bat a eye-lid over tribune’s romance with oyinlola and pdp.
tribune died the day Pa obafemi Awolowo,our reverred leader died.we’re only witnessing the gradual and final burial of it’s corpse,as it has finally turned to a local IBADAN tabloid unlike dynamic mediums like the gaurdian,punch,the nation.e.t.c
so let’s not disturb ourselves with a newspaper medium that can hardly sell 20,000 copies in lagos,ondo,edo,delta,ekiti,osun and ogun combined in one day.
okiro has always been a disaster,so let’s not lose sleep over him.i am more than convinced that there’s justice at the yet to be inaugurated tribunal and appeal court no matter how long it takes.
cheer up
I know one thing for sure,and that is the fact that papa Awolowo turns in his grave each time tribune titles publish their tabloid. Tribune now romances with the people he(papa Awolowo) spent his life time to fight. Why? because they are usurpers who never wish Nigeria nay Southwest well. It does not matter who and who are in the conservative. The earlier they retrace their step the better, money is not everything. The primary aim of setting up tribune is to give voice to the voiceless and not to be covering, abating and energizing illegality. Their were mainstream politics in the days of Papa Awo, yet he did not compromise his stand. If not for the money ‘donation’ from some quarters i doubt it if tribune will be able to break even. Think twice
Tribune is also compromise, if u want to read about PDP’s lies nd properganders read The tribune
I have observed the same. Tribune has been my paper since arrived in Nigeria over 30m years ago because of its objectivivity. I noticed a change in this culture immediately a change of baton in the publishing house. What a pity!
what of thenation that AC is using get some work to do idiots
The writer does not understand that the backers of Olagunsoye Oyinlola are present and former associates of Nigerian Tribune… Tribune is used as Oyinlola’s parrot. it is as simple as ABC.
tunde bevaves like those whom he represents by calling people names for not sharing the same view with him. Physical and verbal violence should not be part of a civilsed person(s). Pity!
Oh Tunde you have spoilt my name for taken this dirty job of image laundrer for the Tribune titles. Ihave always be saying it that, Immediately we bury PDP in the southwest of nigeria, Tribune will be burried with it. I’m very close to Nigeria tribune and even have a girl friend among their staff and I always tell her to begin to look for another establishment because tribune is a dead newspaper. No ammount of monthly prayer can save it because their management has chosen to allign with people who their middle name is “Destroyer”.
Newspapers should give the information and let the readers form their opinions. To do otherwise is intellectual hypnotism and that is deadly.
Nnamdi Agha’s last blog post..Team CyberMed Herbal Affiliate Program
The newspaper has become a shadow of its glorious past. We are happy that he progressive in the slouth-west are intelligent enough to think out another newspaper for the progressive voice.
Pls all your update on my blog.
Thanks
kesiena Akpofure
kesiena akpofure´s last blog ..GREAT W.D.U WELCOME PARTY 009-2010 SEMESTER
The country Nigeria is getting scattered day by day, how can Nigerian achieve vision 2020 without Education? The nation’s University have been on strike for THREE AND HALF MONTHS and FG is not do anything about it.
Am very sorry for the current management of NIGERIA TRIBUNE because they have destrupt the legacy laid down by their founding father . AWOLOWO will never forgive them in his grave.
OYELEYE E.A (WARD 4,ILESA EAST LOCAL GOVT)´s last blog ..Vigilance: The Price of Eternal Liberty – New Year Message From Aregbesola
Tribune had derailed long ago,how i wish DNA was popular when Papa was alive
This year 2010 by the special grace of God and in the spirit of suffering Nigerian Especially OSUN people ILE-ISE IWE IROYIN NIGERIA TRIBUNE YO J’ONA RAURAU. The nigeria tribune newspaper building will be burnt to ashes. Amen Amen and Amen
It is really saddening to learn your issues in Nigeria are becoming worse. I have a lot of friends and relatives there and I am deeply bothered on what education they can offer to my nephews and nieces there.