Opinion: The Government and the Fourth Estate



 By John Bukunmi

The final collapse of power can only be ensured when the whistleblower's voice or the town crier’s call is unrestrained, and the truth is not distorted as a misrepresentation of reality. Some freedoms liberate every man from bondage, shackles, or ignorance. These same freedoms must also be upheld for the press—not only in schools and businesses but also in the political arena. 

Unchecked power, flailing like quicksand, is as dangerous as a volcanic eruption. The freedom of the press in political spheres, Nigeria especially, must be supported, as it serves as the watchdog over the administrators at the helm of administration.

The power unleashed without control or restraint is not just harmful to one but to all. While the press nourishes the people and elevates the state to prominence, its efforts should not be buried in the abyss of ungrateful critiques. Despite its inquisitive nature and its limited ability to influence public opinion on sensitive matters, the state should not perpetuate itself as a narcissist. 

Lord Acton, a British historian, famously said in a letter to Bishop Creighton in 1887, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Unchecked power thrives where the press's ink and voice are silenced, and justice is neglected. 

Whenever there is a revolution of rising expectations within a system, administration, or government, the best way for leaders to protect their interests is to shut the door on the fourth estate and censor information while pressuring the media. 

Any threats to press freedom should be eliminated and eradicated. In post-independence India, Jawaharlal Nehru once said, "We were simply horrified to see how thin was the ice upon which we were skating." Press freedom may not be guaranteed in a government infiltrated by comprador capitalists. 

In an institution, administration, or government where press freedom is a nightmare, the growth of the country or nation will stagnate. As the press does not seek to turn the state into anarchy, the government should neither harass nor intimidate the press but maintain its originality. 

 

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