THE EFFECT OF BROADCAST MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST ETHNO RELIGIOUS CRISIS IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The researcher examines the effects of broadcast media campaign against ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria. Considering the long existing problems created by this menace, an audience based research of this nature is imperative. Survey research method was adopted in the research design to elicit reliable opinion from a known sample of the population based on Taro Yamane formula and the 2006 Census Report. The researcher framed five research questionnaires as research instrument to gather unbiased responses from the respondents, while five research questions were framed, five hypotheses were also formulated and tested for reliability, using chi – square statistical formula. The study was anchored on a communication theory – the social responsibility theory as it has relationship with the topic under research. From the findings, it was observed that the broadcast media campaign on ethno-religious crisis has really suffered a setback based on people’s negligence towards the broadcast campaign on this menace. The researcher hereby recommends the following in order to make the electronic media more effective in the war against ethno-religious crises: The government should sponsor programmes on inter religious affairs through the broadcast stations in the country for this will go a long way of reducing religious intolerance. Secondly, the operators of the electronic media industry should employ competent personnel to manage their affairs especially as they relate to the crusade against ethno-religious crises in the country.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria has been one of the outstanding and disturbing challenges which Nigeria as a country is battling with in recent times. Nigeria, a country situated in West Africa, has a population of about 167 million (The Forum 2011, P.13). This figure is more than the total population of thirteen neighbouring states in the continent of Africa. The country is made up of about 300 ethnic groups, some small, some fairly large with English Language as the official national language (Nweke 1994, P. 3). Nigeria as Awolowo (1990, P. 35) put it, has over 250 different languages and dialects spoken within its borders and there is also an important religious split, as the North is primarily Muslims and the South predominantly Christians. These differences in ethnic and religious split in the country has become a bane in the peace, unity, stability and harmony of Nigeria as an independent country. The character of the Nigerian State is responsible for the country’s deepening ethno-religious crises (Makino 200, P. 12).
This pluralistic nature thus brings about constant feelings of distrust between the component units and the fear of one ethnic or religious group dominating the other is rife. A pattern of largely discernible ethnic suspicion and intrigues that had existed prior to independence has led to military coups in the past, the traumatic civil war, mutual distrust afterwards, the annulment of June 12 election and the incessant ethno-religious skirmishes that are presently threatening the very fabric of our nascent democracy and national unity (Ake 2009, P. 27). Tordoff (2000, P.2) asserted that ethnocentric politics, sectional solidarity and primordial interests become predominant features in the nation’s political practices. He further stressed that sectional and individual virtues and interests rather than collective virtues and national interest are advanced and exalted. To this effect, communal orientation precluded any attachment to the state and the syndrome of the ‘son of the soil’ took preference over merit and competence in the choice of political leaders (Tordoff 2000, P.4). By and large, ethno-religious crisis has denied the country national integration. Political instability, disunity and other social and political vices have led to total disfunctioning of all the sectors of the country’s development. Many lives and properties worth billions of naira have been lost as a result of ethno-religious crisis. Be that as it may, all the security agencies in the country are playing their participatory role to ensure that ethno-religious conflicts come to an end. The mass media being the hub that reaches to the people at any given time is not left behind on issues of ethno-religious crises.
The broadcast media especially the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is effectively fighting against ethno-religious crisis in the country to fulfil its social responsibility role. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has ensured adequate coverage and broadcast of issues centered on ethno-religious crisis. Keeping the people informed on issues of ethno-religious crisis is an indication that the media are performing their watch dog and social responsibility roles effectively (Eze 2008, P.202). The broadcast media has always been in a round table discussion with the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Government of Nigeria to proffer solutions and ways to fight against the menace of ethno-religious crisis. Media experts and analysts do offer adequate solutions to reduce or eliminate ethno-religious crisis in the country. Journalists are always seen at the fore front when it comes to covering ethno-religious conflict to ensure timely dissemination of information to the people.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The peace and unity of any given nation determine the economic and political development of such a nation (Garver 1999, P.47). Accordingly, Grinshaw noted that any attempt to understand the development of the independent states cannot escape a study of ethnicity and religion as some of the main challenges to the development of democracy, nation building and national integration. The situation in Nigeria with regard to ethno-religious crises is alarming. The colonial government boycotted the due course of legitimization at its formation and this poses serious consequences for its stability and unity at the present time. It is against this backdrop that the need for effective coverage of ethno-religious crisis is inalienable to the broadcast media. The researcher is thus triggered off to ascertain the roles of Nigerian Television Authority as a broadcast medium in creating impact on ethno-religious crisis. The researcher also makes certain the feelings of the broadcast media’s audience on the role the media play in tackling ethno-religious crisis. Besides, the researcher tries to discover if the activities of broadcast media have helped in the fight against ethno-religious violence in Nigeria.
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