By Enobong Umohette
enobong_umohette@yahoo.com
The fourth estate of the realm is a parlance that evokes many sentiments across board. For some, it is the watchdog of society. For some, it is a tool for political leverage and control. For some, it is the voice of conscience and yet for others, it symbolizes a commercial enterprise where intellectualism, oratory and loquacity are deployed for propaganda and NEWS- at a price.
Whatever the outlook, personal conviction and perception we may all have about the press; like government; it is the practitioners that exemplify its beauty or espouse its shortcomings.
Mr Olusegun Adeniyi is one amongst the numerous of such fine gentlemen of the press, men who have over the years, exemplified the beauty of journalism: Diligent and adept with radically intelligent views about public and government affairs. Today he is the Chief Image maker to President Umaru Yar’adua and by extension, the presidency. I am happy that he has been honored recently with his participation in a U.S State Dept program hosted here in the U.S.A.The epoch making event could not have taken place at a better venue than the U.S.A: which is the bastion for press freedom, freedom of speech and all other fundamental human rights and liberties.
Maybe the influx of quite a number of journalists/ members of the press in this new administration accounts for the present government’s responsiveness to public opinion. Who better can feel the pulse of public opinion faster than a seasoned media person/journalist. Maybe the acrobatic style of policy thrust and direction by the present Yar’adua government is an indication that the Yar’adua administration is not like a rudderless ship as some critics would suggest.
Life is such a mystery indeed. So many things happen and we wonder why. Many at times, we are faced with surprises, changes and CO-INCIDENCES, that make our journey through this mortal plane akin to a work of inexplicable fiction.
http://saharareporters.com/www/interview/detail/?id=59
