Founder of The Guardian, Mr Alex Ibru
By Banji Ayoola
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has commended The Guardian for its role in championing the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
While praising the media for its excellent role in the tortuous and bloody democratisation struggle, he extolled “The Flagship” of the Nigerian media for speaking truth to power.
He spoke on Thursday in Lagos at the book launch and presentation of “The Making of the Nigerian Flagship, the Story of The Guardian,” which was written by two pioneer reporters of the medium, Mr Aaron Ukodie and Mr O’seun Ogunseitan.
Pouring encomiums on The Guardian, the Vice President said the story of the newspaper was significant, for the redefinition it meant for print media in Nigeria, and for its uniqueness in bringing public intellectuals and academics into journalism and breeding a generation of talented journalists.
The Guardian, he said, represents “the proud and illustrious tradition of the Nigerian press that practised journalism with a social mission and a commitment to speaking truth to power.
He noted specifically that the paper played an important role in the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that it suffered proscription and the fire-bombing of its business offices at Rutam House.
Osinbajo’s words: “Alex Ibru, himself, narrowly survived an assassination attempt in which he was severely injured. Years later, I confronted the horror of the attack on him myself, when as Attorney General in Lagos, it was my lot to prosecute his assailants. It was a reflection of the terrible costs that journalists bore as they continued to heroically ply their craft as an act of resistance against tyranny.
“For decades, the men and women that work at The Guardian have drawn inspiration from the immortal words of Uthman Dan Fodio on its masthead: ‘Conscience is an open wound. Only truth can heal it.’
“It is the role of journalists, to tell the truth even when it is inconvenient. This mission has a special resonance in this day and age.”
He noted; “To grasp the significance of The Guardian, it is important to situate its odyssey within the larger Nigerian story and particularly in the context of the evolution of the fourth estate in our country.
“The Guardian is no longer just a newspaper house, but a public institution – one that has served as an exemplar and a model for generations of media practitioners who replicate its ethos and standards in different ways.”
He stressed that the media, as gatekeepers in the fourth estate, must demonstrate a greater awareness of the society, while upholding the principles of balance, objectivity and fair-hearing in the collective struggle to build a nation with the bricks of mutuality, plurality and tolerance
According to the Vice President, while it is true that the freedom of expression is enshrined in our constitution, society, progress, and order depend upon the responsible exercise of freedom, otherwise the end result will be anarchy.
“Nation-building is not the sole preserve of politicians and governments; in fact, it is just as much a task for civil society of which the press is an important member,” the VP stated.
Acknowledging the significant role of the Nigerian media in actualizing democracy, the Vice President urged media practitioners to continue to speak truth to power.
“The Guardian harked back to the proud and illustrious tradition of the Nigerian press that practiced journalism with a social mission and a commitment to speaking truth to power. It played an important role in the struggles that birthed our democracy, suffering proscription and the firebombing of its business offices at Rutam House. Alex Ibru, himself, narrowly survived an assassination attempt in which he was severely injured.
“Years later, I confronted the horror of the attack on him myself, when as Attorney-General in Lagos, it was my lot to prosecute his assailants. It was a reflection of the terrible costs that journalists bore as they continued to heroically ply their craft as an act of resistance against tyranny.
“For decades, the men and women that work at The Guardian have drawn inspiration from the immortal words of Uthman Dan Fodio on its masthead: “Conscience is an open wound. Only truth can heal it.” It is the role of journalists to tell the truth even when it is inconvenient. This mission has a special resonance in this day and age.”
Calling on the Nigerian press to effectively tackle the spread of fake news, Mr Osinbajo submitted that, “even as we strive to make governance more transparent and accountable in its workings, and to abandon the habits of secrecy and opacity that became deeply ingrained during the era of military rule, we have realized that abuse of state power is not the only threat to the liberal tradition. Right now, we also have to deal with issues such as the proliferation of fake news.
“Almost daily, fake news or mischievously manipulated news is trafficked with the clear intent of warping the perception of reality and inducing conflict.
“It is said that journalism is the first rough draft of history. It is true that reportage shapes the perception and understanding of events. It shapes memories and can influence behaviour for good or for ill. There are arguably no bigger influencers than those who report and interpret the world to us. This is considerable power and it comes with responsibility.”
While commending the Guardian Newspapers for raising the standards of journalism in Nigeria, the Vice President noted that there must be collective effort by media organisations and practitioners to uphold and improve on the quality of professionalism.
He said, “The story of The Guardian Newspaper is significant, for the redefinition it meant for print media in Nigeria, and for its uniqueness in bringing public intellectuals and academics into journalism and breeding a generation of talented journalists.
“About four decades ago, The Guardian set new standards that forever transformed the practice of journalism. Today a more complex media and information landscape require a corps of professionals to set new standards and raise the quality of the fare on offer.
“The pioneers of The Guardian understood that journalism operates in a social context and cannot be value-neutral. This same cognitive commitment is incumbent upon all media practitioners today. We are at a time in our national odyssey in which retailers of discord and merchants of strife are working assiduously against our collective potential as a people.
“Creating commonality of purpose in ethnically and culturally diverse societies is challenging the world over. However, nation-building is not the sole preserve of politicians and governments; in fact, it is just as much a task for civil society of which the press is an important member.”
The Vice President commended the authors, The Guardian Newspapers “and especially the chief custodian of the legacy, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru “for broadening our understanding of history, for the appreciation of the present and inspiring the future.”
In his own speech at the occasion, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa also lauded The Guardian for pioneering new journalism in Nigeria.
The governor who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said the departed founder of the newspaper, Dr Alex Ibru, deserved a prime place in the media hall of fame for his vision, courage, and tenacity in establishing the flagship newspaper in the country.
According to him, The Guardian began as a carefully packaged product with specialised offerings targeted primarily at thinkers, decision-makers in government and leaders in business, finance, culture and other professions.
He said that the newspaper’s entry into the media market in Nigeria was refreshing and uplifting.
His words: “Thirty-eight years ago, The Guardian, made a grand entry into the newspaper industry with a bold claim as the flagship of the Nigerian print media.
“The newspaper captured public attention with its in-depth reporting, rich content, intellectual flavour, and novel approach to print journalism.
“I still vividly recall that fateful day on February 27, 1983, when The Guardian made its debut. From its first corporate statement and the collection of names on the masthead, it was clear the newspaper was destined to revolutionise the Nigerian Media.
“It was, indeed, a unique assemblage of “highly skilled professionals, managers, and men and women of scholarship.
“Today, as we celebrate The Making of the Nigerian Flagship, the broad consensus is that The Guardian has lived up to its claim.”
The governor said that The Guardian remains the flagship of the Nigerian press and indisputably the best newspaper ever produced in Nigeria with its brand of journalism making a profound impact on Nigerian journalism.
“The Guardian changed the tradition of shouting headlines cast in 72-point and five paragraphs to subdued headlines and rich content.
“It formalized the concept of the Editorial Board and gave primacy to the Editorial as the reasoned voice of the newspaper.”
He commended the wife of the founder, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru, for keeping the vision alive and sustaining the tradition of excellence and good corporate governance of the newspaper.
Chairman of the occasion and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun, Osoba, thanked Osinbajo for honouring the occasion.
He disclosed that he and the late Alex Ibru began the idea of The Guardian about 40 years ago, in Yaba.
Recounting the years of his association with the late Guardian founder, he described him as a deep intellectual in approach, adding that due to his ingenuity, The Guardian became the first paper with not just news but analysis, background to the news and commentaries.
“Ibru never interfered with the professionals in The Guardian. He tolerated what they wrote. He never dictated to the columnists,” Osoba said.
The publisher of The Guardian, while receiving the award given to her husband, reiterated the need for a true federalism, which has become a recurring feature of The Guardian editorials for some time now.
She said she was glad her husband was being honoured for his pioneering role in the media industry.
She said that The Guardian had been consistent in its call for Restructuring and True Federalism in the country as a panacea to the growing insecurity and under-development of the nation.
Her words: “We would like the president and his men and women to note that restructuring of the federation in the context of federalism is an idea whose time has come and no politics can repel that idea. That is why we have been committed to a weekly commentary on the front page of The Guardian on the issue.
“We do this every Thursday. As you may have seen, today is the 24th edition of our ‘federalism is the answer, after all’ serial. We would like our president to note that a return to true federalism will solve most of our security and economic challenges. It is not new,” she said.
It was a moment of reunion for many who passed out of The Guardian ‘journalism school,’ the Flagship, as they converged at the event.
In attendance among others were former Governor of Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who chaired the occasion; former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, Mr. Lade Bonuola; former Cross River State Governor, Mr. Donald Duke; Chairman of THISDAY and ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Dr. Patrick Dele Cole; Publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman, Ibru Organisation, Chief Oskar Ibru; Executive Director, Toke Ibru, and the Managing Director of Thisday Newspaper, Mr. Eniola Bello.
There were Mr. Ted Iwere; Senator Ayogu Eze; and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho among others.
