By Owei Lakemfa
THE most fundamental human right to the journalist is life, followed by the right to wages or income. These are the foundations on which his profession and the freedom of expression are built. A journalist with a perpetually rumbling stomach cannot be a reliable soldier of press freedom. At best, he becomes a suicidal soldier who, armed with only a rifle, goes against a heavily fortified enemy position.
In 2009 I was engaged in a media battle with former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, over his falsification of Nigerian history, including his claimed role in the struggle against military dictatorship. His defences easily crumbled.
However, I did not envisage a counter-attack by a journalist from a different media organisation for whom not even facts were sacred and all was game. I did not dignify such a low level of media attack with even a word as I knew the motivation was hunger.
In July, 2020, I responded to the decision of former Finance and…
Source: Vanguard Newspaper
