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It was on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in Benin City and Journalists were on duty to salvage a crashing situation.
The Civil Society in their usual way of puting pressure on government to be transparent, roled out its drum of protests to demand for what they believe is their rights.
Evaporated from their covens and condensed at the Edo state Specialist Hospital through a Peacefull match, protesting and chanting songs of liberation with placards boldly carrying different inscriptions.
No one espect to see ubstruction from any one because it was a peaceful adventure to press home their demands
Behold a deadly group oozed out from no where and advanced toward the peacefull agitators.
As they advanced, they put a sudden impede on free moving train thereby causing serious traffics.
We watched with astonishment and disdaiment as they hover and roudedoff the protesters.
Less will anyone believe their aggresiveness was the turn of the Journalists who were doing their legitimate jobs.
Yes! A state correspondent of Rave TV, Edo State, was the first point of attack with his only Trippod Stand broken and Camera Stolen by "Babaric buffallo Sodiers" while doing his legitimate duty.
Others from, SilverBird Communications, Peoples Daily, Orient Daily, Super Screen TV, TVC and others were harrassed and miamed by the uncult group who invaded a harmless protest carried out by Edo Civil Society Organizations.
Loads of assorted guns and other dangorous weapons of mass distruction were seen on a dark bullion van.
But the "buffallo soldiers and the barbarian act" will not let the mighty pen surge for the values of a society whose common patrimoney is disenfranchized.
Although,Barbarians aren't known for their etiquette in the society.
The cradle of democratic civilization is further hampered when urchins now dictate how stakeholders function.
Arguably, Governor Godwin Obaseki is not a violent Man and why would this happen before him?
He is known for his ability to put together crafts and initiatives that can depeens economic statuitory thereby leading growths of a state.
As a descent government he portrays, he shouldnt allow miscrands evaporate and condens in a template he had overtime built dutifully.
His work rate is highly commendable across board and must not allow sentiments from cronnies rock his boat.
Whether the government is aware or not it is not relevant, but what is relevant is for government to direct its energy to building a veritable synagy with stakeholders.
The protesters will make his government thick and more respected if he look inwards and listen to some of their demands.
In their Protest, they believe that the privatization of Edo State Specialist Hospital should be reverted to public management and it should be managed by Edo State Hospital Management Board.
The people whose taxes were deployed in the construction should be able to access it.
Now requesting that the state government should call for a stakeholder’s meeting to review the successful management and right of access by citizens to service delivery for me is a welcome development and should not be shrold off.
The purported insurance scheme should be optional not compulsory and be left for private insurance companies to handle.
According to their statement; "We call for a Town Hall meeting by the state government with all critical stakeholders to brief the people on the hospital current ownership, management, services and costs".
The use of thugs and political urchins to attack and unleash mayhem on members of Edo Civil Society Organisations and Journalists whom duty is to create and educate the society in a peaceful protest, is highly condemnable and amounts to human rights abuse by a seemly democratic government except we are made to believe otherwise.
Citizens, have rights to peaceful protests and opinion without any form of suppression and intimidation from government.
Now i ask, who wants a Journalist dead? What is the offence committed for reporting a situation?
Why are the barbarians so obssessed and want to destroy a working tool of a journalist?
If you believe that what you are doing is right, why do you prevent journalists from reporting it?
Journalists are storytellers who Swallows Fire for others to drink water.
A journalist presents information so folks can form opinions and make prudent decisions.
Journalists educate and inform the public about events and issues and how they affect their lives.
They write and report news stories about everything, from social issues and politics to sports and entertainment.
But getting to the story takes some legwork, passion and absolute determinations.
A journalist spends time perusing press releases and developing story ideas; verifying facts; researching and investigating a single topic (sometimes for years!) for in-depth, long-form pieces; cultivating sources and relationships; and interviewing subjects.
And depending on where the journalist works, the job may entail anchoring a newscast, on-the-spot reporting, taking photos and producing content, including videos, for social media platforms.
What is more barbarous than to see a nation where justice is lawfully denied him, that hath not wherewithall to pay for it; and that this merchandize hath so great credit, that in a politicall government there should be set up of a fourth estate.
The term "Fourth Estate or
Fourth Power" refers to the press and news media both in explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues.
Though, it is not formally recognized as a part of a political system, it wields significant indirect social influence.
The derivation of the term fourth estate arises from the traditional European concept of the three estates of the realm: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The equivalent term "fourth power" is somewhat uncommon in English, but it is used in many European languages, including German, Spanish and French, to refer to a government's separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Governor Godwin obaseki will continue to receive support from all quarters for me, becuase he has the ability to create a new frontier in Governance; but first, he must rise against all forms of societal tortures, and embrace the willing minds, the people and most especially the watchdogs.
Journalists, Rights groups and other actors shouldnt be percieved as enemies but developmental partners in a progressive society.
No government can achieve milestones without these twin collaborators. They are the real deal of divergent fibrics in democratic space.
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