Godwin Obaseki on the Repositioning of the Nigerian Observer: From Historical Perspective
Governor Godwin Obaseki’s commitment to repositioning the Edo State owned newspaper, Nigerian Observer, to meet national and international standards is no doubt a delightful development as news about Edo State and those around the world will be readily available, and in real time. Apart from this, it will help create jobs for the people and add to the internally generated revenue if well managed to make profit within the ambit of digital marketing and other ways.
I am particularly delighted about the governor’s commitment because of the historics of the newspaper. The governor’s commitment brings to my mind nostalgia and fond memories as a student of history.
The Nigerian Observer has been published since 29 May 1968, eight years after independence. It was purposed to carter for news around the old Midwest Region and beyond.
I could recall in 1973, a Rivers State correspondent for the paper did a very lecarating article on the impending teacher’s strike in River’s State, which coincided with the governor’s Birthday, Alfred Diete-Spiff. The governor took the article as a deliberate insult, and his aide, Ralph Iwowari, made sure the reporter’s head was publicly shaved and had him beaten with lashes of the cane.
And during the administration of President Shehu Shagari(1979-83) the Nigerian Observer was subjected to brutal police harassment, with some of its staff being detained and the premises shut down because of its unfavourable reportage about the administration. In 1989, due to the economic downtown, the paper was forced to close for some time before it was revamped. Again, the paper was subject to confrontation thereafter: The Ibrahim Babangida administration on 22 July, 1993 banned the paper with others from circulation. I can go on and on with the rich history of this newspaper.
Although the newspaper has a relatively small circulation compared to others, which has occasioned it’s low reportage, limiting it’s coverage of events and investigative reporting, the place of the newspaper in history cannot be discounted. With the repositioning of the newspaper by the governor, I am confident this will be addressed keenly.
I am sure there will be considerable investment in the digitization of the newspaper which will see the total conversation from the analog form to into digital forms. Newspapers anywhere in the world preserve rich records of the past, and since the advent of the digital media, many institutions across the world have begun to digitize them and make the digital files publicly available. The digitized newspapers may be made available for a fee or for free depending on the persuasion of the management.
Again, I think the online version of the newspaper should be enhanced to be able to compete effectively in broadcast journalism in presenting breaking news in a more timely manner. The credibility and strong brand recognition of the Nigerian Observer and the close relationship it must create with other businesses in terms of advertisement will strengthen it’s chances of making revenue for the state.
I therefore urge the good people of Edo State to do away with their political differences so that they can join hands in helping the administration of Godwin Obaseki to ‘Make Edo Great Again.’
By Bar. Ken Immasuagbon, Dec, 09, 2020.
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