PRESS FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF THE OLUSEGUN OBASANSO ADMINISTRATION)
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PRESS FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF THE
OLUSEGUN OBASANSO ADMINISTRATION)
ABSTRACT
IN
THIS STUDY, PRESS FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHTS MEAN GENERALLY THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE
THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM, WHICH MAKE A SOCIETY. BUT WHERE THE RIGHTS OF THE PRESS
FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT ARE FAIL TO GIVEN, IT WILL MAR A SOCIETY
100 QUESTIONNAIRES WAS SHARED TO HUNDRED PEOPLE. THE RESPONDENTS WERE STUDENTS,
POLITICIAN WORKING IN THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
AND GENERAL PUBLIC. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED
THUS STUDENTS 40, JOURNALIST 20 AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC 40, THESE WERE USED TO
FIND OUT WHETHER OBASANJO CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION GIVE SUPPORT TO PRESS FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
RIGHT. RAW SCORES OF STUDENT. JOURNALIST AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WERE COLLECTED
AND ANALYZED. RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT, THERE IS PARTLY FREEDOM OF
PRESS AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT IN OLUSEGUN
OBASANJO CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION THAN TO THAT OF SANI
ABACHA AND BADAMOSI BABANGIDA MILITARY REGIME. RECOMMENDATION WHERE MADE BASED
ON THE FINDINGS WHICH INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRY
TO ADVANCED THE CAUSE OF THE PRESS FREEDOM FROM THE LEVEL IT IS TODAY BY
GRANTING THE PRESS FREE HAND TO ITS DUTY. AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE A
SECOND LOOK AS ITS STAND ON SHARIA LAW IN SOME STATES LIKE
ZAMFARA STATE.
FINALLY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROSECUTE THOSE WHO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE
PAST TILL DOWN AND THE PRESS SHOULD DO ITS WORK ACCORDING TO THE ETHICS OF
THEIR PROFESSION. AND
PEOPLE SHOULD BE EDUCATED MORE TO KNOW THEIR FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHTS. IT IS HOPE THAT IF THESE
RECOMMENDATION ARE IMPLEMENTED, THERE WILL BE NOTICEABLE
IMPROVEMENT IN THE SOCIETY SINCE PRESS IS THE WATCH DOG OF THE SOCIETY.
LIST
OF TABLES
4.1 How free is the press in Nigeria?
4.2
Do you feel that the press in Nigeria is
performing its Job as the voice of the voiceless in our society?
4.3
Do you believe that Nigeria
Journalists and citizen should be given freedom to exercise their right?
4.4
Do you think that press freedom and
fundamental human rights both contributed to the recent democracy in Nigeria?
4.5
Will press freedom guarantee
truthfulness and objectivity in the field of journalism?
4.6
How would you rate the Babangida and
Abacha regime concerning pres freedom and fundamental human rights in Nigeria?
4.7
Who is to be blamed for the restricted
situation of the press?
4.8
Do you feel that the Journalists are
restricted because they do not adhere to the profession?
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Title page i
Approval
page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract vi
List
of content ix
CHAPTER ONE:- INTRODUCTION 1
1.0
Background of the study 1
1.1
Statement of the problems 11
1.2
Purpose of the study 13
1.3
Significance of the study 14
1.4
Research Questions 15
1.5
Scope of the study 16
1.6
Definition of terms 17
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 23
2.1
Fundamental Human Rights in Nigeria 23
2.2
Press Freedom a way to Fundamental
Human
Right 27
2.3
The Nigerian Press Under the Olusegun
Obasanjo Administration 37
2.4
Summary of the Literature Review 40
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEACH METHODOLOGY 42
3.0 Methodology 42
3.1
Brief Outline of the Study 42
3.2
Design of the Study 43
3.3
Area of the Study 44
3.4
Population of the Study 44
3.5
Sample of the Study 45
3.6
Instrument for Data Collection 45
3.7
Validation of the Instrument 46
3.8 Distribution and Retrieval of the Instrument 46
3.9
Method of Data Analysis. 47
CHAPTER FOUR:- PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 48
4.1
Data presentation 48
4.2
Data Analysis 48
4.3
Findings 60
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY AND FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
5.0
Summary of Findings
5.1
Conclusion
5.2
Recommendations
5.3
Limitations of the Study
5.4
Suggestion for Further Study
References
Appendices
Questionnaire
CHAPTER
ONE - INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Press
freedom and fundamental human rights are two terms that can make or mar a
society.
Press
freedom and fundamental human rights can make a society where they are given
their right place and proper attention. In the same, vein, the two can mar
society where they are not given their proper place and respect. Infact they
are like two sides of the coin.
A respect for fundamental human rights
thus becomes a respect for human person. To understand how fundamental human
rights work in a society is to understand the position of press freedom in that
society. Because a society cannot have fundamental human rights in operation
without first of all having press freedom in place, since the press is the
voice of the voiceless society.
Moreover to understand press freedom and
fundamental human rights in Nigeria,
one must at the social systems where they operate. To put this in perspectives,
that is pertinent to review the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and the Sani Abacha
military regimes and the supposed democratic government of Olusegun Obasanjo,
during the period under military review in Nigeria, press freedom and
fundamental human right were conceived not for the great mans of people for men
who were in position to guide and direct their fellows. This freedom was
thought to be created near the hub of power. This is to say that once one is in
power or in uniform, the person is above the law in some aspects of life.
The press therefore functioned from the
top to down. The rulers of the time used the press to inform the masses of what
they want to hear. Know and support.
For instance the government used the
media to project only its programme and policies. But after all these, the fate
of press freedom still hangs the balance.
However
as stated earlier, no person can talk freedom of the press without first of all
thinking of fundamental human right. When human rights are held in bondage, the
press cannot find a fertile ground to practice, hence the clamp on the press
article one (1) of the universal declaration of human rights say ‘all human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Human rights and equal in
dignity and rights. Human rights thus become birth right that flows from
parents to children. This becomes possible as human beings are endowed with
reason and consciences. There were severe retroactive laws as well as numerous
absolutist decrees which inter-alia legalized illegalities and also drastically
eroded fundamental human rights.
Nevertheless, these constitute were mere
interludes in the long tragedies of violation unleashed on innocent citizens by
the military regimes, more especially the Babangida and Abacha regimes, the
case is not all that different in this Obasanjo administration but the
treatment that time was sugar coated which may prove more dangerous. It is a
form of good will but it was actually deceitful. A situation where a political
party claims that it has chosen a consensus candidates to represent it in a
political post or to use its platform to contest a political post while it is
not so, this is denial of human rights of citizens in a democratic setting, it
is fitting for the citizen in a political party to generally select the person
who will use its name to contest for political post.
Most
of the atrocities committed against the citizens were never reported during the
regimes of Babangida and Abacha, as decrees were promulgated to trap those
pressmen who cleared to publish government’s violation of human rights. As for
Obasanjo administration such pressmen will be sacked without benefits. As a
result of this ugly development against Nigeria pressmen, freedom of press
becomes and remains a mirage.
Today
the government frowns at who invites or comments on the regressing standard of
education in Nigeria
and its attendants problems. It is even more shameful that citizens do not know
what is happening in their country, simply because there is no press freedom, at
the same time government is claiming to be running a democratic state. The
situation has so determine, that many events in Nigeria are first reported by
foreign press before the local one. Sometimes, the Nigerian press never reports
such occurrences. As a result of intimidation to Journalists and media
operators, many Nigerians are ignorant of events in Nigeria or in the country. For
example, the day Abacha died. It was the foreign media that reported it first
and those Nigerians who do not have access to foreign reports got the news
later when it was announced in Nigeria.
Consequently,
the civil liberties organization (CLO) annual report about Nigeria and
becomes a useful guide in appreciating the dept of ruthlessness and lawlessness
of Babangida and Abacha regimes, including the Obasanjo administration. The
executive thus arrogates to itself the power to accuse, arrest, make out
punishment without recourse to the law courts. In the cast of the past military
regimes, law courts were rendered important, new decrees were rolled out to
deal with critics of government without the due process of law. Though the bill
of human rights, the universal declaration of Federal Republic of Nigeria, have
fundamental human rights, embedded in them, but implementation of such
provisions is the case.
The
press and government have observed the relationship existing between them as
that of “friendly enemies, the press will be doing everything it knows now for
government in power and the masses, but the only reward the press gets is Gail
sentences, confiscation of their newspapers and magazines, writing of threat
letters. Sometime send death through letter bombs as was the case of Dele Giwa
during the Babangida regime and so on.
Nevertheless,
the importance and functions of the press cannot be over emphasized in a
secular society like ours. These functions of the press are:-
CORRELATION:
(1997) and Wright (1975) wrote that, “Correlation includes the
interrelationship about the environment and prescription for conduct in
reaction to these events. This is the editorial or opinion function which is
otherwise pejoratively referred to as propaganda agenda setting.
SOCIALIZATION
OR EDUCATION: Wright further said that occur on
communicating knowledge’s, values and social norms from one generation to
another from members of a group of newcomers. This is done through informal
education.
SURVEILLANCE:
According to Wright, surveillance “refers to the collection and distribution of
information, concerning events in the environment, both outside and within any
particular society” this function of the press helps in guiding the live of the
individual in society.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Wright
sees entertainment as “communicative it’s primarily intended for amusement,
irrespective of any instrumental effect they might have. This is geared towards
providing some amusement relaxation and relief from tension. It is basically
meant to offer escape from hard, stressful times.
These
functions of the press are very vital for the country and the press in society
cannot be over emphasized.
1.1
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Press freedom cannot be discussed while isolating
fundamental human rights. That is why article (1) of the universal declaration
of human rights says that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights. A nation may be in place, but without psychological welfare going
on in it by this, the nation might be a multi ethics state, where some citizens
will be depraved of some of their rights. This such a nation is lacking in its
fundamental human rights, Martin Luther King Jr. statement “peace is not
absence of conflict but the presence of justice. The unfortunate thing is that
the poor masses of a country like Nigeria do not know what their
rights are, they find it very difficult to fight for their rights. This is
where the work of the pressmen becomes important, to fight the social ills in
the country. But the question is, are the pressmen free to operate in Nigeria,
thus the press profession is like the biblical contest between Moses and
pharaoh, where Moses was demanding for the release of his people to go to the
land of promise, so that they would be free to express themselves, without fear
of obnoxious decrees. But so long as the persecution of the journalists
persists, practicing journalists cannot rest on their bars this study will look
at:
The extent fundamental human rights are
observed since the administration of Olusegun Obasango from 1999-2003 till
date. Some national dailies and magazines will be studied to establish friends
in human rights violations.
1.2
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
To
highlight the importance of press freedom, to look into how the press is being
handled and determine how the press freedom can faster fundamental human rights
in Nigeria.
To
generate enough date that will serve as motivator for future researchers in
this area of one’s communicating.
This work will be beneficial to media
professionals politicians and anyone in society.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This work among other
things will look for a way of projecting Nigerian’s human rights and press
freedom records in a good light both in and outside of the country. This work
will be beneficial to media professionals, politicians, researchers and people
from all walk of life.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i) Research question, how was press freedom
influence fundamental human rights.
The questions is taken care of by data
in table 4.4 which said that press freedom has influence on fundamental human
right, the press is seen as the voice of the voiceless in society. The reason
being that anytime the press is doing its job effectively, it always influence
and attract positively the operations of fundamental human right, that is
peoples fundamental human rights are not easily violated by this means that the
press speaks of society.
ii)
How the press has failed under the
Obasanjo administration is answered by data in table 4.1 which showed that the
press is free in Nigeria.
iii)
Fundamental human rights determine
press freedom the questions was answered by data in table 4.3 which said that
the idea of freedom to Nigeria journalist and citizens is a positive
suggestion, the reason being that when ever fundamental human right is in
operation, it automatically guarantees press freedom.
1.5
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is limited only to the survey of Babangida and Sani Abacha’s military regimes and Obasanjo’s Civilian administration. The data required for this study will be collected from the under graduate of political science, politicians who worked with the government and the general public in a randomly selection in Onitsha and Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
It is important to state that conceptual definition refers to the actual meaning of terms as in dictionary; it is the general motion of a particular term. While operational definition refers to meaning as it suits the another or the way its would be in a content. It is given by the author. Note that the operational definition comes before conceptual terms.
MEDIA: Singular form of medium, it refers to the channel used in the transmission of message to the audiences, thus radio, television, newspaper and magazine. In this media is referred to all types of medium whether electronic or print.
According to oxford dictionary press freedom is the right of journalists to report events and express opinions freely. PRESS FREEDOM can be defines as right or free access to information and right to report news without government deprivations. It can also means the art of publishing material without submitting to government authority for permission.
PRESS: The press in this frame work refers to a print and electronic medium of communication. It can also refer to newspaper or periodicals collectively or publishing house.
FREEDOM: In this content, it means giving access, liberty not under compulsion or restraint by any authority.
JOURNALISM: The profession which involves working in a media house, sometimes it is regarded as press work. This is profession which antecedent entails conducting and writing for public journals.
REGIME: It refers to a period of a particular government in power, examples are that of Abacha and Abubakar. It means also a system of government or administration usually military.
HUMAN RIGHTS: These right which are inherent in the nature of human beings without which we cannot live as human beings. This refers to those principles and freedom given human being in order to satisfy nature.
TYRANNY:
It means abuse of power, ruling authoritatively without the consent of the
citizens. It refers to using power arbitrary and oppressively.
ETHICS:
ethics of journalism refers to widely accepted standard of practice in the
profession. It is the profession standard conduct in journalism.
DECREES:
These are laws made by the military which are not constitutional. This is the
order edict law by one authority.
PRESCRITION:
Withdrawal of license and closure of news paper or magazine organization.
DETENTION: It means conferment of arrest due
to an offence committed before trail in a court of law. It also means
restriction of liberty especially of political provisional law; A rule of
action establish by authority.
CIVIL LIBERTY ORGANIZATION (CLO): This is an organization in Nigeria which
is formed to fight against the abuse of human rights. The incumbent president
in Nigeria
is Ayobe. It has other branches in other countries of the world.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS:
This
is united nation commission where thirty articles of human rights are written
for the whole worlds observation.
VANGUARD
NESPAPER: A national
newspaper publisher at Apapa Surellere of Lagos
state in Nigeria.
TELL MAGAZINE: A democratic and truthful magazine
published in Lagos,
its truthful publication his mostly handed the editors and reporters in
detention.
NEWSWATCH: This is a nationwide magazine
published in Lagos
its leadership should be up to 20,000 at a circulation world wide.
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