What irresponsible journalists do not know about dictatorship

By Ibrahim  Sourie Mansaray :
Ramadan is indeed a month of peace, tolerance and forgiveness.This month as it is universally respected in the world, does not only cater for muslims but all and sundry in the form of humanity.The barrage of criticisms, cynicisms and even unfounded allegations levied against the president of Sierra Leone by certain publishers  has gone too far as it now seems it is a criticism embedded with eyefit and unruly trademarks. It is really with steadfast and genuine intentions that this article is meant to highlight this as an emerging threat in the society. It is fair that journalism and transparency are bedfellows.They are intertwined and should be respected. Some of these publishers  have been performing her role as a publisher with unprecedented bias. As a responsible journalist, it is  required that a publisher or an editor criticizes and proffer solutions to any threat or problems.

   Journalism, like any other profession should be adored and all its rules should be adhered to.Journalists who criticise people in society should live by standards worthy of emulation. This field(journalism) has produced  remarkable and adorable species in the world. The journalists act as guardian and protectors of the defenceless. The egos of any editor or publisher should not transcend the issues affecting the masses nor personal judgement interfering  with objective reporting. It is therefore sensitive, if not, dangerous, when a journalist oversteps his/her role and tend to portray and promote personal agenda under the guise of democracy at the detriment of the masses.
  

  Few journalists all over the world have earned international reputation as a result of their genuine, unbias reporting. Sola Odunfa of Nigeria has stood out as an examplary figure in the field of journalism. Sola Odunfa became an household name in Africa and the world at large as a result of his objective, unbias and nationalistic reportings on the continent and his country,Nigeria.As a Nigerian who must have suffered at the hands of diferrent military juntas, his upmost priority was to present issues as it occurs.That is responsible journalism.
 

   In the Sierra Leone scenario, career journalists like George Khoryama, Christo Johnson, Edaward Akar(of blessed memory),Ibrahim B Kargbo(present minister of information), late Bunting Davies have manifested their proficiencies in presenting issues and news as it occurs regardless of political affiliations.

  The recent journalistic role of the publisher of certain pro-SLPP publishers  is becoming boring and absurd. Honestly, it is commendable as a female to run a newspaper in the country, though being a publisher does not make you a journalist.As a Sierra leonean, women  have set the pace for future female journalists to take up higher tasks in the field. However, quite recently, some journalists   have speedily eroded the respect and admiration of  fine publishers.
 

  Some of these pro-SLPP publishers  can be  good writers when they want to and can be naught when they allows their ego to override their emotions. The  recent stance on calling the president a “dictator”, only because the president reappointed the National Electoral Commissioner,Christiana Thorpe is not only absurd but denigrating and humiliating.How can you call the president  a dictator  because of  that? Does that mean, President Obama is also a dictator only because he also reappointed the defence secretary and the federal reserve chairman? Is that dictatorial? Wow, journalism really thrives in Sierra Leone. Was ex-president Kabba a dictator when he reappointed the erstwhile minister of education,Dr.Alpha Wurie umpteenth times? Who is then a dictator?
 

  President Koroma is not a perfect ruler but to brand him as a dictator is untimely and premature. Have these errant publishers  read about Idi Amin of Uganda, Mobutu Sese Seko, Siad Barre of Somalia? These were dictators.
 

The writings of SLPP Publishers  have been one sided in recent months.The opposition chairman, John Benjamin has been excellent and unblemished, according to their writings.As a journalist, always learn to present three sides to every situation; the two sides and the real story as it occurs.
  

 John Benjamin as a politician has his ups and downs in politics. In case these SLPP Publishers  have forgotten or do not know, John Benjamin whilst as Secretary of State in the NPRC era raided the campus of Njala University College and disrupted the entire township of Mokonde and its environs. The whole campus was in darkness as a result of a feud between a lecturer and John Benjamin. Did you ever write about that? John Benjamin as stated earlier, is a nice gentleman but has his downs as well like any human being.
 

   As the president is now embarking on appointing young and talented Sierra Leoneans to enviable positions, the journalists should encourage the president to turn to the youths and not old folks who will sleep at crucial meetings. The likes of the Anti Corruption Commissioner, Joseph Kamara, the Youth Commissioner, Umar Farouk Sesay, Charlie Hughes and others should be a pat on the back of the president.
   

 If the reappointment of Christiana Thorpe as NEC chairlady is a form of dictatorship, then President Barack Obama is also a dictator for reappointing certain members of his cabinet.
Ibrahim  Sourie Mansaray
Stockton,California
USA
 

© 2010, Wilfred Kabs Kanu. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum

By Wilfred Kabs Kanu