Lai Mohammed Begs Media Organisations To Stop ‘Mocking’ FG

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has
appealed to the media to stop mocking the Federal Government and
support the war against corruption.

Mr Mohammed made the appeal in Abuja on Monday at the 68th
General Assembly where he was the special guest of honour.

“Without mincing words, let me use this platform to appeal
directly to the media, in general, to join this administration in
facing the problem of corruption,” he said.

“As we have said times without number, this fight must not be
seen as Buhari’s fight alone. It must not be seen as the Federal
Government’s fight; it is our fight.”

We Must Create More Universally Acceptable Content – BON
Chairman
Mr Mohammed told guests at the event that while it is okay for the
media to criticise the strategy of the government, some of the
headlines published or broadcast recently mocked the
government.

He said, “This appeal to the media to join us in the fight
against corruption is born out of the fact that the 4th Estate of
the Realm cannot afford to sit on the fence as far as this fight is
concerned.

“We are not saying that the media should not criticize us over
our strategy for the fight but it should stop mocking us.

“In recent times, it is not unusual to read such headlines
‘Buhari’s Government Losing Anti-Corruption War’, ‘Buhari’s
Anti-Corruption War Is Failing’, ‘Arewa Youths Knock President
Buhari over failing anti-corruption war’. This is sheer
mockery.”

Many of the country’s problems have been blamed on corruption
and Mr Mohammed believes it is an issue that has to be tackled
decisively or it will destroy the country.

“If we fail to win by defeating corruption, it will simply
overwhelm us as a nation,” he warned.

President Buhari had been elected into office on the back of
promises that he would fight corruption, tackle insecurity and
revamp Nigeria’s economy, among others.

More than two years after the birth of the administration, Mr
Mohammed said the toughest issue it has faced is the war against
corruption.

“Why? Because fighting corruption anywhere in the world is like
walking a lonely road,” he said. “While many will join hands with
you to tackle insecurity or to revamp the economy, you are on your
on when you take on corruption.”

According to Mr Mohammed, there is serious resistance to the war
against corruption because many Nigerians were beneficiaries of
corruption.

“Now that the gravy train of corruption is fast derailing, many
are finding it hard to come to terms with it. That is the origin of
the bring back corruption campaign being carried out by certain
elements in our society,” he said.

Considering the resistance to the war against corruption, the
minister believes the chances of victory are slimmer without the
support of the media.

He said, “When the media is not fully on board, the fight
against corruption becomes tougher. When the media sits on every
setback we suffer prosecuting this war, they give succor to the
corrupt. When the media falls for the distraction tactics of those
who are mortally afraid of this war, they weaken the battle.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has
appealed to the media to stop mocking the Federal Government and
support the war against corruption.

Mr Mohammed made the appeal in Abuja on Monday at the 68th
General Assembly where he was the special guest of honour.

“Without mincing words, let me use this platform to appeal
directly to the media, in general, to join this administration in
facing the problem of corruption,” he said.

“As we have said times without number, this fight must not be
seen as Buhari’s fight alone. It must not be seen as the Federal
Government’s fight; it is our fight.”

We Must Create More Universally Acceptable Content – BON
Chairman
Mr Mohammed told guests at the event that while it is okay for the
media to criticise the strategy of the government, some of the
headlines published or broadcast recently mocked the
government.

He said, “This appeal to the media to join us in the fight
against corruption is born out of the fact that the 4th Estate of
the Realm cannot afford to sit on the fence as far as this fight is
concerned.

“We are not saying that the media should not criticize us over
our strategy for the fight but it should stop mocking us.

“In recent times, it is not unusual to read such headlines
‘Buhari’s Government Losing Anti-Corruption War’, ‘Buhari’s
Anti-Corruption War Is Failing’, ‘Arewa Youths Knock President
Buhari over failing anti-corruption war’. This is sheer
mockery.”

Many of the country’s problems have been blamed on corruption
and Mr Mohammed believes it is an issue that has to be tackled
decisively or it will destroy the country.

“If we fail to win by defeating corruption, it will simply
overwhelm us as a nation,” he warned.

President Buhari had been elected into office on the back of
promises that he would fight corruption, tackle insecurity and
revamp Nigeria’s economy, among others.

More than two years after the birth of the administration, Mr
Mohammed said the toughest issue it has faced is the war against
corruption.

“Why? Because fighting corruption anywhere in the world is like
walking a lonely road,” he said. “While many will join hands with
you to tackle insecurity or to revamp the economy, you are on your
on when you take on corruption.”

According to Mr Mohammed, there is serious resistance to the war
against corruption because many Nigerians were beneficiaries of
corruption.

“Now that the gravy train of corruption is fast derailing, many
are finding it hard to come to terms with it. That is the origin of
the bring back corruption campaign being carried out by certain
elements in our society,” he said.

Considering the resistance to the war against corruption, the
minister believes the chances of victory are slimmer without the
support of the media.

He said, “When the media is not fully on board, the fight
against corruption becomes tougher. When the media sits on every
setback we suffer prosecuting this war, they give succor to the
corrupt. When the media falls for the distraction tactics of those
who are mortally afraid of this war, they weaken the battle.”