By John Andah
As a devoted historian of Nigeria’s media landscape, I approached the recently launched
autobiography of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), with keen interest – particularly to see how he reflected on his relationship with the press.
But one detail caught my attention: his portrayal of the Nigerian media as ‘adversarial’ and stuck in a perpetual ‘we-versus-the-government’ battle.
Reflecting on the brutal assassination of revered investigative journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa, the former Nigerian leader graciously took a moment to remind us that the Nigerian media has had an ‘adversarial attitude’ towards the government.
He said, ‘The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is
typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday.
‘It was an attitude of “we versus the government” that has remained today. It is a situation in which the government is adjudged guilty even before the evidence in a case is adduced’.
IBB’s commentary on media ‘hysteria’ in the Dele Giwa case inadvertently confirms what
journalists have known for decades: Nigerian leaders have a long-standing allergy to
accountability.
Ironically, the media, which should be the government’s trusted compass for truth and
transparency, is instead labeled a hostile force or frenemy.
History has shown that the Nigerian media’s so-called ‘adversarial attitude’ did not emerge from a vacuum. It was born out of necessity, sharpened by colonial resistance, and refined through years of military rule, censorship, and dictatorship.
What the former Nigerian leader seemingly overlooked is that this ‘adversarial’ press was the very force that helped Nigeria gain independence in 1960. Recall that the West African Pilot, founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe, was at the forefront of the nationalist movement, using ink and paper to fight the British colonialists in ways that rifles and bayonets could not.
The Nigerian Tribune, established by Obafemi Awolowo, also served as a loudspeaker for self-governance, amplifying the call for an end to foreign rule. Journalists were imprisoned, harassed, and intimidated for speaking truth to power. And this happened long before the name of the fearless Dele Giwa was ever whispered in Nigerian
history.
The dailies at the time did not just report news; they shaped Nigeria’s destiny. But, of
course, history rarely remembers its true heroes.
One thing is clear: the former military president’s criticism of the media echoes a long-standing pattern – Nigerian governments repeatedly mistaking calls for accountability as a personal attack.
As reported by the New York Times of December 29, 1986, Nigerian newspapers, despite facing government hostility, maintained a subtle yet persistent campaign for justice by placing small boxes in obscure corners of their pages with the question: ‘Who Killed Dele Giwa?’
When journalists ask questions, they are labeled troublemakers; when they demand
transparency, they suddenly become public enemies working against ‘national security’. If
holding leaders accountable is considered ‘adversarial’, then perhaps the government should question its own reflection in this mirror.
Even today, this ‘adversarial’ media continues to fight for the Nigerian people. In 2020,
journalists played a crucial role in exposing human rights violations during the #EndSARS
protests, despite crackdowns, arrests, and media blackouts. In 2023, investigative reporters uncovered corruption in government contracts, inflated budgets, and financial mismanagement that otherwise would have been swept under the rug.
Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism, with
media houses routinely raided, reporters harassed, and censorship laws tightened to silence dissent. And yet, the government still wonders why the press is ‘adversarial?’
The media’s role is not to romance the government but to hold it accountable. Nigeria’s
development hinges on a governance system that values transparency, responsiveness, and accountability. This is why the media and civil society are vital.
The government must understand that public trust is earned, not imposed. And the best way to silence an ‘adversarial’ press is not through intimidation but through good governance. Citizens deserve leaders who answer for their actions, and a government that listens to its people and engages with the press will always be remembered for progress, not for cover-ups.
John Andah is a development journalist and the Executive Director of ImpactHouse
Centre for Development Communication – a civil society organisation empowering
everyday citizens, civil society, and the media with essential resources to drive
responsive and accountable governance.
