A Section of the Media Beautify Govt's Failures-Prof. Olagoke

The Print, Television and other branches of the mass media ought to at all times uphold the fundamental objectives of the real purpose of governance in impartial and unbiased ways. 
Sadly, a number of organizations have failed to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people for pecuniary and related reasons. In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of Shfaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that a section of the media in Nigeria beautify rather than highlighting the Government's shortcomings.

Excerpts: 
Some media organizations have overtime failed to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people. Why is this so?
The golden profession of the pen and other arms of the mass media are powerful communication tools to enliven the primary roles of enhancing education information and entertainment aspects of human activities for the purpose of peaceful co-existence and peoples' wellness and development.
This is why there is a regulatory control board for the proper management of the practice of the profession to avoid misleading the people and the promotion of disaffection among the people of mankind.
Without this profession, the whole world would have been in 'darkness', where waywardness and frivolities without a check would have dominated the scene to the displeasure and disadvantage of the weak and the just.  In the case of Nigeria, we started well with the print and electronic media.  Considering the emerging political scenario, partisanship has dominated the mass media, with reports having slants via tribal sentiments and political party biases.
This became more pronounced when privately owned mass media became prominent.
At a particular point in time, Nigeria relied upon foreign news than the local ones.
The local media have challenges such as the doctoring need either by government or the proprietors of various mass media otherwise employees would lose their jobs.
The role of the mass media is supposed to go beyond that of a watchdog that can only bark without biting.
However, Nigeria is yet to benefit from their competitive nature for any form of improvement need.
For the mass media to be effective, it needs to dwell on issues and objectivity based on facts and figures for their solidarity to check the opposition's overzealousness and critically evaluate the government's activities.
The performance rating and the need to restructure through management ethics need to be used as a tool by the mass media in order that their findings as x-rayed, would sensitize the society into taking decisive action on correcting aberrations in governance for all indicators of development to be improved.
Activities of the media are expected to x-ray the contributions of every individual in the National Assembly while periodical checks through a good performance rating of the executive members as well as the appointees of government into various positions of power.
Publications regarding the truth about the suitability of people in Ministerial portfolios ought to let the public know the people who are responsible for the various fraud and corruption in the land. This approach of the media would assist the government to carry out a periodical reshuffle of the cabinet for the purpose of achieving better performances in other people for the nation.
It is very unfortunate that Nigeria has witnessed cases of erstwhile good union leaders who were found wanting in governance affairs when challenged with management administration issues as they involve transparency and accountability. Also, erstwhile media practitioners of note have usually been found wanting, when given the opportunity to serve the government. One can now understand why the mass media may usually beautify government activities rather than exposing its failures.
However, for the nation to grow and develop, the mass media must be firm through organizational and professional ethics orientation as well as strong editorials and commentaries that must be respected based on objectivity that would not attract insinuations from members of the public that the outbursts were sponsored by the enemies of the government.
Society relies solely on the strength of the mass media in the charging government to be responsive and responsible through the due process of transparency and accountability.