Sahara Reporters And Smear Campaign Against Malami And Atiku Abubakar -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

I have followed with interest the reports on Sahara Reporters about the person of Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the latest being the alleged statement and law suit credited to Malami to the effect that the former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar (GCON), the Wazirin Adamawa is not a Nigeria; a mischievous report intended to pitch the honorable minister against the Wazirin and which has since been debunked by Abubakar Malami. Sahara Reporters for some time now has in a subtle and confrontation focused on the personality of Abubakar Malami. And they are all designed to malign the person of Malami and Atiku Abubakar; the motive obviously being to undermine their reputation and present them as corrupt inordinately ambitious characters incapable of holding public office. Careless remarks such as this: “The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, was not only in a hurry to occupy a vital position in the country, but desperate to allocate to himself what belongs to millions of people,” from Sahara Reporters are obviously provocative and inciting.

Abubakar Malami

However, a careful look has established the fact that Sahara Reporters is the secret voice of a rapacious politician whose primary interest is to acquire the nation as his private estate as he did his home state. Indeed, it is unfortunate that Sowore has established a reputation as a political contractor working for the interest of some inordinately ambitious political goons in his tribal enclave. We know his antics. Nigerians are wiser now and cannot be deceived by his pretentious posturing.

Sowere’s Sahara Reporters though internet based is undoubtedly part and parcel of the infamous Lagos Press; the negative press that thrives on lies, half-truths, speculations, stereotypes, hates speeches, instigations, rumors, suppression and sensationalisms. The Lagos Press otherwise known as Yoruba Press has made heroes out of clowns, rabble-rousers, anarchists while maligning and vilifying real statesmen and patriots for primordial reasons. This is one grave factor militating against national unity in Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar

Nigeria is a nation that plays politics without ideology; run political campaigns with cut-and-paste manifestoes attacking people rather than address issues. The current regime is less than three years, nothing much has been accomplished but rather than face the issues confronting the nation, the political jobbers have their eyes fixed for 2023 – the next general election.

Nigerian politicians don’t address issues because they don’t know the tenets of democracy. They believe in do-or-die politics of bitterness, getting to power through unorthodox means. Those in power do not think in terms of fulfilling their campaign promises or pursuing general interest but think only about the next election once they are sworn
Unfortunately, the press rather stands neutral and on the part of the truth has always been a willing accomplice to the politicians. The Nigerian Press has proved to be grossly sectional in their gate-keeping function, reportage, analysis of events and approach to national issues. Yes, the behavior of Nigeria Press leaves much to be desired. The Lagos press in particular has been notoriously prejudiced. When the history of failure of governance in this country is told the ignoble role of this section of the press must stand out obtrusively.

We cannot forget in a hurry the role the Lagos Press played in bringing the country to the current sorry state of affairs. They were tools in the hands of politicians who used them to blackmail and intimidate the former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan whom they branded as clueless. Now we know better. As the 2023 election beckons they are at it again: smear campaign, character assassination, packaging, rebranding and marketing torn-coat politicians for the next election. These ethnic jingoists think Nigerians are fools who accept everything they hear. The failure of APC government is an eye-opener for us all. We will no longer keep quiet and allow media hirelings assassinate people’s character and repackage dead woods as men of integrity. We must sensitize Nigerians to know, to resist these charlatans who dress themselves in the garb of civil advocates whereas they are ethnic warlords and minions of rapacious tribal politicians.

Why is it that the Sowore and his ilk always single out politicians from other parts of the country and not their native Yoruba tribe for attack? Are the Yoruba politicians inerrant? During the last general election in 2019, we had the infamous “bullion van” saga and I wonder why the anti corruption officer Sowore and his ilk did not sensationalize it. Why is Diezani Madueke still being pummeled in the media while Kemi Adeosun, the former minister of Finance and certificate forger’s cases is being suppressed? Why is the corruption in NDDC sensationalized while the sleaze perpetrated in FIRS by the immediate past regime glossed over? Is what is good for the geese no longer good for the gander?

I am not by any means saying that Malami is a saint neither am I advocating that corrupt cases should be suppressed. As a Diaspora Nigerian, I have sojourned in places where nobody is above the law, where corruption is seen and treated as it should be; and aberration. I have lived in places where fairness and national interest is preferred over tribal interest. All that I advocate is that the press should be fair to all. Sectionalism, ethnic bias should be eschewed at all costs if we must get the leadership that we all desire and yearn for.

I am not holding brief for the Minister of Justice but as concerned Nigeria interested in the peace, unity and progress of my home country, I can state unequivocally from available record that Abubabakar Malami is one of the few ministers in the current regime that has performed creditably well. There is obviously no space in this essay to accommodate some of the landmark achievements he has accomplished as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK.