COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS -  Politics and Good Governance in Ogun State:
Need to Separate Facts from Fictions

Story by: Ismail Olawale.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflicts and discord. On this we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics - Barack Obama.

Coalition of Civil Society Groups considers the unfolding events regarding politics and governance in Ogun State pertinent enough to merit attention of patriotic stakeholders in the political process. It is our well-considered opinion that facts are sacred and must therefore be treated with outmost sense of responsibility. The need to separate facts from fictions in promoting transparency and accountability in governance cannot be overemphasized. Those who promote fiction by sacrificing facts would only succeed in making voodoo of our democracy. We have noted with utmost dismay how facts and fictions have become increasingly difficult to separate issues and events relating to politics and governance in Ogun State in recent time.

Proper diagnosis of the political situation in Ogun State will reveal the fragility of democratization process in Ogun State nay Nigeria. The gangsteristic approach of the fictional opposition has no justifiable ground within the context of developmental agenda that is the core essence of governance. The barrage of allegation does not question or invalidate the existence of the robust developmental stride of OGD. Neither has the Governor been faulted on the issue of effective performance. Hence the intra-ruling class crisis in the state is not about issue of common benefit to the people. It is essentially an orchestrated attempt to blackmail the Governor into submission so that it will be business as usual. It will be too disastrous if the secondary contradiction is over-flogged to the point where democracy is threatened. The need to rescue the democratic process from imminent collapse arising from the diversionary contradiction created by the opposition is the raison deter that conditions this kind of strategic intervention by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups. In the words of Frantz Fanon, in a struggle for a common good, no clean hands, no innocent soul, every onlooker is either a coward or a traitor. When the chip is down, it is the civil society and the common citizen that would not only be adversely affected but will equally shoulder the responsibility of marching on the street, returning to the barricades for the survival of democracy and the rule of law.

We remain convinced that the ends we seek in transparent and accountable governance would become sterile if facts are sacrificed on altar of fictions for whatever reason and for whatsoever motive. It is therefore of interest to us as a coalition of stakeholders to engage the media hype created around events and issues in the Gateway State in the last few months, with the view to drawing attention to what we consider unhealthy media war trend before it becomes a festering sore. The crucial role which democratic consolidation places on civil society implies that activities of government must at all times be subjected to serious scrutiny by organized platform of stakeholders in the democratic process. The electorate who are the safe repository of power from whom government derives legitimacy, reserves the right to know the truth concerning the state of affairs of governments that enjoy and exercise the mandates of the people. To this extent, the Coalition recognizes the essential roles which the media has to play in making democracy endure, as well as deliver dividends in which so much hope and expectations and invested by the mass of our people. In the case of Nigeria, democratic consolidation requires eternal vigilance from the media, which was a critical partner in the tortuous journey that ushered in democracy on the eve of the twentieth century.

We recognize that the task of securing democracy from threatening reverses ultimately requires that the media must consistently put the operators of our democratic system on their toes. Notwithstanding, the sustenance of democracy depends on the way and manner the media carry out the critical assignments of monitoring democracy. As the Fourth estate of the Realm, the media ought to be committed to the cause of the truth at all times, through balance reporting that gives all parties ample opportunities to be heard without hindrance or inhibition. It is precisely for this reason that the media attention generated by events in Ogun State in recent time has become worrisome.

It is a well-know fact today that media reports tend to suggest that politics in Ogun State is constantly on the boil with governance in abeyance. To be precise, a section of the media appears bent on creating erroneous impression of war situation in Ogun State without providing concrete reason or cogent justification. We refer to the cover story of TheNews of the 19th January, 2009 to buttress our claim. We demand that the media should carry out independent appraisal of the said edition of this notable News Magazine to see if fairness and balance were demonstrated even with any visceral commitment. Whereas the News Magazine tends to "enforce" believability regarding the many wars of Daniel by giving opportunity to an array of notable individuals in the opposition camp to air their views, the Governor who was at the receiving ends of the barbs by opposition was not accorded a space to deny or affirm the totalitarianism for which he was patently and roundly accused. Apparently TheNews deliberately refused to seek the views or positions of actors in the OGD government despite the "avalanche" of accusations it purportedly gathered from the opposition camp.

To this extent, the Coalition is therefore deeply touched by the ugly media representation, which creates negative impression regarding the affairs in the Gateway State. Without doubts, these reports have precipitated deep-seated concern amongst rank and file citizens of Ogun State. Giving the level of concern amongst the public particularly stakeholders in the political process to which the media and government are accountable, the Coalition considers it a patriotic duty to interrogate the worrisome development with the view to ensuring that media coverage of events and politics in Ogun State is based on facts, fairness and balanced reporting. We wish to however emphasize that our desire is not to indict the media but to point out what has become issue of grave concern to majority of stakeholders who see the media as key to effective democratic governance. Considering the critical role of the media in the mobilization of popular support and in moulding public opinion towards the ideals of good governance, the Coalition seeks to ensure that media coverage of issues and events in Ogun State provides proper appraisal of the political trend vis-à-vis democratic governance.

Without sounding immodest, we boldly affirm that the current democratic administration in Ogun State has demonstrated commitment to transform Ogun State judging from available statistics that are verifiable. We agree that the government could still do more and must be challenged to do more. However, we take serious objection to media bashing that is targeted at scoring cheap political points. We note with concern that the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel is not being attacked on the basis of non-performance, unaccountability or fraud. It would make more sense to us as stakeholders and other well-meaning people of Ogun State if the government is tackled on account of non-performance and proven abuse of public office. In the words of Barack Obama at the historic event yesterday: To those leaders who seek to sow conflict or blame the ills of their society on others, they will be judged by what they can build not what they can destroy.
 

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