‘BUHARI Economic Policy: Human Face, No Added Value for Masses’–Niyi BABADE, Al-jazeera Award winner, International Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker, Miracle Man of Reuters
*Says: “Can’t Rate President’s Performance on Nation’s Economy, Corruption War on Course”
*States: “During Peoples Democratic Party Tenure, APC members Detained on Corruption”
*Confesses: “Buhari’s Return to Power in 2019, Political Fate in Hands of the People”
*Echoes: “Incumbent Govt Lied, Used People to Attain Ambition and Dumped Them”
*Explain: “Lai Mohammed Incompetent to Control Online Media & Cyber Warriors”
*Laments: “Problem of Slave-driver Media Employers Can Never Stop in Nigeria”
*Warns: “Journalists should Rise Now, Criticize Any Policy with No Benefit for People they Represent”
HE’s a successful Nigerian born renowned journalist whose meritorious work at various times in Reuters, Cables News Network (CNN), Associated Press (AP) and other international media platforms earned him the sobriquet: ‘Miracle Man of Reuters’ for his depth, expertise, journalism attributes and professionalism. He has also worked in several local media broadcast stations in Nigeria. In this Exclusive Interview with CNNiReport Journalist North America, GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, this veteran media practitioner answered various questions pertaining to his view of Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari’s present Economic Policy, his supports for the on-going Corruption War on Looters of the Nation’s Treasury, How Nigerians will decide the Political Fate of the incumbent administration, what posterity will say about Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Why Slave Driver Employers cannot put an end to their exploitation of the journalists’ salaries and Reasons Men of the Fourth Estate of the Realm must Criticize any anti-human policy.
Q: How will you describe the on-going Corruption war embarked upon by administration of President Muhammadu Buhari?
A: Corruption war is ongoing and I don’t think it’s enough to rate the president’s performance given the state of the nation’s economy before and after he assumed office.
Q: There are allegations in some quarters that President Buhari’s economic policy is anti-human as the rich are getting richer, poor getting poorer
A: I think the economic policy has human face but I am not sure it has added value to the common man although it might still add but for now it’s just a child’s play.
Q: Some Nigerians are saying that the anti-corruption battle is selective, aimed majorly on Nigeria’s opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). What is your position?
A: I don’t think President Buhari’s war on corruption is selective. Don’t forget, when the opposition party (Peoples Democratic Party) was in power too, people who were brought to justice and even detained for corruption were members of the then opposing party(now All Progressives Congress, APC ruling party). You will recollect how a serving governor was dealt with then so I don’t think it’s selective the only problem with it is the fact that instead of wasting one and half year on his policies other programs that will be of quick and immense benefit to the people ought to be flying by now.
Q: Do you see President Buhari and APC return to Aso Rock in 2019 based on his performance?
A: .Buhari’s return to the corridors of power depend solely on the electorate to decide his political fate. Left on me, I have not seen anything fantastic he has done to warrant his return to the Villa but like General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida once said to me sometime ago: ‘Nigerians have fertile mind’, so anything can happen with them (the people) within a tinkle of an eye. No one can decide what Nigerians can do at any point in time.
Q: President Buhari’s government was reportedly quoted in the media recently that there are no corrupt members in his cabinet. Do you view this statement as truth or lies?
A: I think the president is wrong to have said that of his government. I am sure there are still some bad elements in the government but there is a saying that “no one is labeled corrupt until he or she is proven guilty.
Q: How do you think President Buhari administration will be remembered by posterity?
A: Of the people who made up President Buhari’s cabinet, I think he (Mr. President) will be remembered as the man who used people to get to the highest rung of the ladder, threw down the ladder and dumped the people whom he used. This does not show good leadership trace at all, I am sure you know what am saying here.
Q: Why do you think lots of journalists are keeping quiet in critique Buhari’s Government?
A: I think the journalists are still waiting and watching the turn of events but waiting too long is dangerous. The early they rise now to criticize any policy that they know is of no benefit to the people they represent the better for the good of the nation. Although another thing I think is wrong with Nigerian journalists is the fact that it is a new beginning for them after several years of the opposition party (PDP) in power so they are yet to come to terms with the trend of events. I trust my colleagues are just watching and waiting to strike. No doubt, the minister of information, Lai Mohamed is doing a good job for the Government by carrying the media along at all times but I am sure if the tide should turn he will not be able to handle online reporters, cyber warriors and others.
Q:Do you believe the Nigerian media has failed in investigative reportage, expose of corrupt public office looters and rightly informing the people?
A: I think the media has not failed because the administration is still too young for us to bring our sledge hammer to hit so we are still waiting and watching like I earlier said. When the time to comment and criticize comes nobody can and will be able to stop us then.
Q: How do you describe some online media, blogs that publishes lies, blackmail just to overheat the polity
A: That’s part of the problems bad governance gives birth to and at times created,because most people are hungry, unemployed and jobless. They eventually wake up on a daily basis to become emergency bloggers, online reporters,cyber warriors and so on, therefore, bringing down the glory and strength of the revered profession called journalism. The unfortunate thing about them is that many of them publish false information by throwing the ethics of the revered profession into “Brutish beast” like Shakespeare said in Julius Caesar, and sad enough some of the so called bloggers are darling of the government.
Q: As a widely traveled international journalist with great experience in Nigeria. Europe and other parts of the world, how can Nigeria solve the problem of Slave Media Employers who will stop at nothing to be owing journalists their monthly salaries, whereas many of these media owners are living in affluence?
A: The problem of slave driver employers cannot be solved because the Nigerian economy has not favoured anybody it has always been one story of better tomorrow and the tomorrow never comes. Due to reasons of hunger and famine in the land, any man who employs a journalist believed he or she is doing such a journalist the favour of a life time. And after sometimes, the journalist is not paid. It has now become the norms for him or her to keep hoping against hope of a better tomorrow even when the tomorrow is not visible,even when such employer has several billions of Naira in his or her account.
