Impact of FRCN's Radio Link on Nation-Building

IMPACT OF THE FRCN ‘RADIO LINK’ ON NATION BUILDING

        

       Apparently, the three basic departments or sections in any broadcasting firm, either radio or television, remain News, Programmes and Engineering. The news section is usually concerned with current affairs which could be local, national or international.

        On its part, the programmes department is involved in transmission of various programmes which could be educative, informative and/or entertaining, as the case may be. Whilst, the engineering section, which may not be directly felt by the audience or the general public but remains the backbone of any media outfit, is the section that deals with the technical aspect of the transmission.

         Though the news section required the most critical attention owing to its sensitive and delicate nature but it is noteworthy that, the programmes department if taken for granted, stands the chance of ruining the healthy state of the broadcasting company. This is the reason the role of the latter, which acts as a recipe in any radio or television station, cannot be overemphasized.

         In line with the quest of its teeming listeners as well as the acknowledgement of the fact that a good programme has the tendency of attracting millions of audience, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) – the largest Radio Network in Africa instituted a programme tagged ‘Radio Link’ five years ago. Radio Link, a Radio Nigeria topical and audience participatory programme, which its debut was aired in January 2010, is an educative cum informative programme that is yet to have a rival in the entire Nigerian radio broadcasting industry.

         Radio Link, which is aired invariably between 8 to 10 a.m every Saturday, touches every area of human endeavour such as social, health, politics, economy, entertainment, arts and culture, infrastructure, governance, power supply, education, media, security, youth affairs, and what have you. The most fascinating aspect of the programme is that it has maintained a tradition of featuring esteemed personalities who have distinguished themselves in their respective field of endeavours as its guests.

        Due to its unique and overwhelming features, anyone who happens to be a regular listener or contributor to the programme would never afford to miss any of its editions irrespective of what the person in question is engaged with. This is why often times, Nigerians residing outside the country had endeavoured to contribute meaningfully to the programme.

         Several analysts as well as civil society activists are of the view that Radio Link has the tendency of restructuring and uplifting the socio-political and economic status of the Nigerian state, if sustained. Recently during a seminar organized by Docfred Continental Social Clinic – a Centre for counselling and career development based in Owerri, Imo State, one of the speakers in the event recognized Radio Link as ‘the Pathfinder of our time’; an accolade that was welcomed by all the informed minds present at the occasion.

         In view of the above remarks, it is needless to reiterate the fact that Radio Link has succeeded in awakening the socio-political consciousness of an average Nigerian, thereby increasing the rate of participation of most Nigerian citizens in electoral matters unlike before when on the average, a Nigerian youth pays less attention to issues affecting the Nigerian polity.

         Suffice it to say; the audience participatory programme – Radio Link, likewise other related ones aired on Radio Nigeria including Issues of the Moment, Police Diary, Bush House Nigeria, Politics Nationwide, among others, has contributed tremendously in nation building. Without mixing words, the remarkable impact of Radio Link on youth affairs and governance since its inception has helped to reshape the thinking faculty of most Nigerian politicians or prospective leaders as the case might be who were formally incautious in nature or in reasoning.

         Having noted the exemplary role of the renowned wave-making programme, there is a compelling need for any right thinking Nigerian who thinks good of this country to be concerned over its sustenance. Against this backdrop, I call on all the corporate organizations, both indigenous and foreign, operating in the country to in their individual capacities endeavour to sponsor the ongoing airing of the programme with a view that it has the potential of creating an enabling environment for their operations.

         In the same vein, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ought to conscientize other broadcasting firms in Nigeria to ensure that they implement as well as maintain the airing of various edifying programmes like Radio Link at their respective stations.    

         No doubt, sustaining the topical and audience participatory programme – Radio Link, which has gained ground in the nation’s broadcasting industry, will not only assist in reawakening the Nigerian citizenry, but also help Radio Nigeria to actualize its reputable vision which remains ‘To be an impartial, credible, creative and digitized medium in the forefront of Nigeria’s national development, unity and progress’.

          Most importantly, it will help in proving to its fans across the African continent and beyond that its mission, which is ‘To create and maintain broadcast outfits that will serve as models in Nigeria and Africa at large in terms of standards, professionalism and character’, remains sacrosanct.

          Hence, the management and staff of the corporation (FRCN) should not in any way compromise the sustenance of this programme that speaks volumes globally, so that, the corporation will continue to uplift the people and unite the entire nation. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador   

         

Imo Without Substantive LG Chairmen

IMO WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE LG CHAIRMEN

     The last time I checked, Imo State – the Eastern Heartland was still earnestly yearning to witness an era where the twenty-seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state would boast of substantive chairmen whom are expected to emerge via an electoral process. The unabated quest has made many to presume that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, no longer has provision for a Third Tier government otherwise known as ‘Local Government Council’.

     It’s noteworthy that the lingering anomaly has existed for nine years now ranging from 2007 till date. The immediate past governor of the state Chief Ikedi Ohakim came up with a façade that seemed like an LG election towards the end of his tenure in 2011. The present administration ably led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, having understood the foul play displayed by the former governor, thought it wise to disengage the elected officers who happened to be the product of the said façade as soon as it assumed duty in 2011.

     Since Gov Okorocha’s reign as the Imo number-one citizen, little or none has been heard as regards LG election in the state. Once or twice in the past, the citizens learnt of an arrangement targeted at the awaited electoral process all to no avail, in spite of all the wails from various quarters. Rather than substantive/elected caucus, what Imolites have invariably been witnessing at the local government level is transition or caretaker administration whereby some certain individuals under the auspices of ‘Transition Committee’ would be empowered to be at the helm of affairs in the respective LGAs.

     We are not unaware of the dangers inherent in suchlike practice especially in a democratic system like ours. A transition-committee chairman or councilor, who can be disengaged or asked to leave at anytime, is no doubt surrounded with limitations. There’s certain limits to which he/she is bound to operate as long as his/her reign lasts. Such administrator is obviously acting directly in line with the directive of the governor who he sees as his boss; suffice it to say that he’s equally one of the aides of the governor.

     The Nigerian Constitution wasn’t daft when it considered creating a provision for the third tier government. This is the government that directly touches the lives of the electorate; it’s the government that understands the true need of the people. An LG chairman, through the elected councillors, hears the overall views of the electorate in regard to governance. Thus, the third tier government is an intermediary between the citizens and the state government.

     However, this piece was necessitated by the recent comment made by Gov Okorocha with regard to the long awaited LG election. Few weeks ago during a parley between the governor and Imo based journalists, the number-one citizen categorically revealed that he would only conduct election for the Local Government Councils if the legal barriers hindering the awaited polls are withdrawn by their sponsors or plaintiffs.

     According to the governor, some individuals in the state had filed suits against him over the local government administration in the state, thus he was of the view that it was unconstitutional or an insubordination to conduct an election regarding the LGAs with a view to upholding the Rule of Law which his administration had ‘vowed to protect’. He went further to state that it was pathetic that those who were sponsors of the aforesaid legal actions happened to be the people persuading him to conduct the election.

      If I’m bound to be objective in my analysis, I would state unequivocally that if the governor genuinely wishes to conduct the awaited polls, he’s required to take all the needed actions toward ensuring that the election is duly conducted. Needless to say; the above excuse ought not to be regarded as a tangible reason for the ongoing inconsequential delay. We must endeavour to call a spade a spade whenever we’re leading, for posterity sake.

     If truly there are existing legal barriers, I enjoin the amiable governor to create a harmony between him and the aggrieved minds. He ought to set up a platform that would bring every warring party together, therein let them know the reason they must withdraw the legal suits for the interest of the state at large. Since the suits in question were filed over LG election, the plaintiffs wouldn’t hesitate to withdraw them if given an obvious and genuine reason to do so, or if they are told that the polls would be conducted thereafter without further ado.

     As a Constitution and Civil Rights activist, I want to remind the governor that the people’s rights are being shortchanged, and that the Nigerian Constitution isn’t finding the atmosphere friendly; hence, the needful ought to be done headlong. Besides, the governor equally needs to acknowledge that suchlike loophole is liable to mess up all the commendable efforts he had recorded so far since the inception of the Rescue Mission Administration. We can’t afford to continue robbing Peter in order to pay Paul.

     Nine consecutive years without substantive or elected LG Chairmen is seriously telling on the state, just to say the least. Hence, we are henceforth expected to count our teeth with our tongues. Frankly, if I’m asked to tender a scorecard, I would say that Gov Rochas Okorocha’s administration is second to that of Late Dr Sam Mbakwe in the history of Imo State; but owing to this very lapse, I might be tempted to reserve my comment if asked to do so. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador 

The Herdsmen Conundrum: Before we Witness Reprisals

THE HERDSMEN CONUNDRUM: BEFORE WE WITNESS REPRISALS

    The popular saying that warns ‘make hay while the Sun shines’ would only be considered reasonable and rational when there’s still hay left in the bushes as well as every arena where it’s usually found. Of course, you can only be conscientized to grab something on time when the stuff in question is still available.

     For over the years, several communities across the federation had been subjected to an untold hardship and seemingly perpetual torture by the so-called Fulani herdsmen. I can’t forget in a hurry that virtually all the states in Nigeria, particularly those in the Southern region, have tasted at least a bit of this conundrum at one time or the other. The aforesaid set of farmers, rather than concentrating on grazing towards breeding their livestock, end up constituting evitable nuisance in their various host communities, in the name of ‘revenge’ or what have you.

     This domineering and nonchalant idiosyncrasy of these armed herdsmen who parade themselves with unspeakable ammunitions and weapons was arguably overlooked by the government and other concerned authorities, not until they recently unleashed an astonishing terror on the people of Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State; an attack that ushered in an unimagined massacre. In the said crisis, which transpired on Monday 25^th April 2016, reportedly scores feared dead, countless persons maimed, about a hundred residents injured, several houses cum churches razed, thereby rendering over two thousand dwellers homeless.

     Though the incident may have come and gone, it’s imperative to acknowledge that the peril it inflicted on the living victims is unarguably an experience they will all live to recall. Myself, each time I recollect that a certain community in Enugu State sometime in the history of this country woke one morning only to be brutally taken unawares by a group of total strangers, I invariably take solace in the ‘notion’ that it could be a mere dream.

     Obviously, the deed has already been done, thus instead of indulging in retrogressive discourse or debate, the most logical and viable thing to do at this point is to concentrate on the way forward. In a situation like this, having taken a formidable step toward checking reoccurrence of suchlike menace, the next most reasonable action to take is to harmonize the atmosphere or the ties biding the affected persons or groups.

     Frankly, before we witness reprisal, which is often the most expected consequent approach whenever such incident transpires, every concerned quarter or body needs to leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that adequate measures are taken with a view to avoiding further tragic situations in the country at large. Any reasonable Nigerian, both at home and in the Diaspora, who says he/she wasn’t deeply hurt by the aforementioned ordeal, is to say the least a monster; hence, all hands are required to be on deck toward creating the anticipated harmony.

     The last time I checked, the herdsmen imbroglio was almost ubiquitous that it required only a severe and drastic measure towards addressing it. The governors of the affected states in their respective jurisdictions, rather than aggravate the colossal injuries already caused, ought to map out the areas to be utilized for grazing on behalf of the herdsmen. And, the herdsmen shouldn’t be allowed to move from one state to another, which often constitute nuisance on our roads. Moreover, henceforth the grazing activity should be commercialized by the various states; it ought to serve as an IGR source for the states.

     Thus, commercialization of the grazing activity as well as scrapping of routing from a locality to the other ought to be captured as one of the clauses in the proposed Grazing Reserves bill. This is why the citizenry mustn’t be taken unawares as regards the said bill; all hands must be involved while drafting the bill so that every needed clause or interest would be captured. Similarly, the government is required to grant soft loans to the livestock farmers to enable them prepare formidable and lasting ranches that would stand the taste of time, in their respective jurisdictions or farms. To this end, any herdsman who cannot foot the bill for the grazing activity in any state would concentrate on his ranch.

     However, I want to bring to our knowledge that it isn’t all the herdsmen that are brutal; the vandals are just a few among them that unnecessarily intends to unleash terror on their host communities, probably owing to one or two frivolous reasons. To this end, the bad eggs must be fished out via the effort of the leadership of the herdsmen’s coalition, and thereafter brought to book. The relevant law enforcement agents ought to take this step very seriously.

     I’m a social crusader who strongly believes in ascertaining the fundamental cause(s) of any anomaly if truly the lapse in question must be addressed holistically or toward restoring normalcy, and this very one isn’t exceptional. Hence, I enjoin the apt authorities such as the Police, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, to embark on a rigorous finding with a view to ensuring that they ascertain the prime origin of the ongoing state of unrest. In addition, governments at all levels should variously set up committees to look into this aspect.

     Town hall meetings equally ought to be randomly scheduled to sensitize the general public on their civic responsibilities in this regard as well as to give the affected host communities a sense of belonging. We must note that we can’t completely unravel this state of quagmire without employing Community Policing, which would be thoroughly effective and efficient only if the entire dwellers are carried along. We mustn’t take any action without involving the potential victims of the mayhem.

     There’s also need for us, especially the security agents, to headlong stop inserting ‘Fulani’ whenever we intend to speak or write on anything pertaining to the herdsmen; we must take into cognizance that anyone could be a herdsman regardless of his/her place of origin. Besides, anyone who intends to hurt you might come in disguise as anything; needless to reiterate that someone or a group that had been longing to terrorize you, may decide to hide under the guise of herdsmen. Thus, we must be duly guided on how we go about the so called Fulani herdsmen.

      I can’t round off this critique without reminding the various governments on the need to embark on a massive compensation programme, not just in Nimbo Community but all over Nigeria. Let’s make hay while the Sun shines now it (hay) is still available in the various bushes. Think about it!

 Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

 Twitter: @mediambassador