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Nigeria: Vanguard, the Diaspora and Relevance of History
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Vanguard (Lagos)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Emma Okocha
Lagos
In its more than two decades of operation, the Vanguard Journalism has ranged from sensational to the most influential. Presidents, Diplomats, Captains of industries, Scholars, Sports buffs and the Military top brass have read it and sought the Newspaper's favours.
At a stage in its evolution, it became the second bible even for our mothers and sisters whose dreams for independence and participation in the greatest African Democracy were propelled by the explosion of education in the period following Nigeria's independence.
At this time, when mankind's future is fraught with great dangers and uncertainties following diminishing resources in the face of high population explosion; when the leading industrial nations are fast approaching the peak of their development and moving from our earthly shores into the intergalactic era, the exigency in our hands is to order for a rapid fire agrarian industrial revolution to reverse the impending plummet to the precipice.
The choice available to the Nigeria's informed leadership is clear. They will have to immediately decide whether to continue to wallow in chaos, continue to engage in unending politics of no value, or embrace the responsibility of purposeful governance.
Presently, the crusading pen is losing its prominence and it is confronted with a dilemma. Educated under the influence of the libertine press, the reporter operates assured of his crusading influence by the independence promised him by the constitution.
At the same time, the freedom could in many instances, be curtailed by the authoritarian excesses of the developing democracies. Operating in this type of environment, the pen is often devoured by the sword.
The diminishing picture and powers of the Fourth Estate is permanently being eroded by the voluntary resignation and retirement of some of the best Journalists who invariably are lured away from their noble desks and offered juicy, legislative and executive perks and positions in government and the industries.
This is a very dangerous precedence and an unholy alliance where the watchdog's barking mouth is overflowing with chocolate and ice cream. Therefore, as the Vanguard surges to challenge for the role of Nigeria's number one Newspaper, we are joining the stable from Washington DC. with the aspiration to mobilize those gifted and qualified Nigerian Diaspora who if provided with the right environment will do for Nigeria what they have succeeded in doing for America.
The miracle of Chile, the transformation of Korea and the rise of India were wonders heralded and achieved before our eyes by a committed Diaspora who were welcomed home and entrusted to move their societies to the relevance of history.
Consequently, we shall be reporting the Nigerian Diaspora, his dreams and challenges of returning and taking it back to his motherland.
We shall as a product of the Nigerian politics never run away from the political debates. Indeed, we believe we shall be able to demonstrate more scientific constructs as a result of our detachment.
As a Conflict Scholar with special focus on African conflicts and resolution, we shall observe the consistent conflagrations that continue to impinge on the continent's development and will proffer some solutions to those wars. We shall identify the parties in a given conflict and predict possible outcomes.
As far as possible we shall endeavor to report on the spot, in order to compliment our sources and our findings.
At this juncture, we shall take time to remember to pay our tribute to the following great publishers who have been sources of inspiration to our long ride.
Late Chief MKO Abiola, the warm-hearted mogul who on flying in the Concord Newspapers, transformed the status of the Nigerian practitioners from 'Mangala' reporters to Mercedes riding editors.
Late Chief Maduaburochukwu Chris Okolie who in holding court at his Ogunlana, Surulere office of the Newbreed, imbibed in us the courage to write the truth to power.
And finally, to Chief Sam Amuka, Nigeria's celebrated satirist and the publisher of the Vanguard Group. He was the publisher who contributed and turned my tide as a mere Journalist to a serious Scholar/writer. He as the publisher who ordered the serialization of my book, 'Blood on the Niger' and as a result moved it up to the best seller ratings in Nigeria and beyond.
As we brace up, to embark on this sacred mission of linking our peoples in the Diaspora with you at home, let me with a garland, welcome you to this column and hope that at the end, Vanguard will act as the medium through which our lost apple in garden will be harvested.
For those of you who have kept the faith, we present to you, one more time, Emma Okocha's mind as read by you when he edited or contributed to The News Agency of Nigeria, The Newbreed, The Concord, The Satellite, This Day, and the moribund Post Express.
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Call the Commander's Parade, Emma Okocha. The GOC is back... reporting for duty, from the Vanguard Headquarters, Washington DC.
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