By Lara Owoeye Wise
“I want to, this morning appeal to all Nigerians, friends on Facebook, pro GMB, pro GEJ, anti GMB, anti GEJ, but lovers of this our beautiful country called Nigeria, to ‘take it easy’ like we normally say here. Take it easy, people.
I have always said that the social media is a crazy place where irresponsible journalism is the norm. You don’t believe me? Just start a rumour on your wall and see how many people will share and even claim they were physically present when your rumour happened.
BUHARI BARS /BANS AIT…
Thousands of you have shared this message. Let me ask you some questions. Where was AIT barred from?
What was the event? What is the name of the crew that went to cover the assignment? When and where did this happen?
I work in AIT so I’m privy to what some people are not but let me say this: this same AIT sent me to Daura to shoot a documentary on the president-elect. That is professionalism.
This same AIT footed the bill for this expensive project and gave me what I needed for this assignment.
This same AIT is working to see that the documentary meets international and professional standards and is already creating airtime for it. While in Katsina state, some overzealous aides, friends and sympathisers of the president-elect reacted to my presence in their state. The emirate council? Oh! You guys don’t want to know how ‘God delivered Daniel from the lion’s den’, literally.
At a point, I had to hide my official car and moved around in an unbranded vehicle for security reasons, okay?
But this same Buhari was informed that “AIT was on their soil” but his informants got the shock of their lives when he told them to allow us do our professional job. He told them to allow us access to whatever and whoever we needed to interview. At his command, we met everybody and spoke to them.
In his family house, AIT was offered drinks but AIT turned down food because AIT was working. AIT took pictures with his sister, nephews and nieces.
I have gone ahead to tell these two stories to show that we are fighting over nothing!!!!
Absolutely nothing!!!!
Whatever happened during the build-up to the elections were for that time and period.
Those ‘aggrieved’ have forgiven and let go.
‘Offenders’ are doing the right thing now because the era of campaigns and lies are over!
After reading these stories, I do not expect anybody to be aggrieved anymore because the principal players have probably forgotten all about what happened.
We have bigger problems on our hands, people. Bigger problems.
Our Chibok girls are still missing, our refineries, hospitals, rail systems, schools, our pensioners, infant and maternal mortality rates, power, security, etc.
Tell me, is it possible to drive a car on a high speed and be looking back at the same time?
A few seconds on even the rear view mirror is recipe for disaster.
Friends, let’s keep our gaze on our mission.
Nigeria is bigger than any one of us.
God bless our dear country!” Lara Owoeye Wise
View Comments (6)
Ms. Owoeye-Wise. Seems you are getting it twisted. Most people both on virtual platforms and the real media world didn't say or claimed that the President-elect directly barred AIT from covering him or the activities around him.
From the outset of this (mis)information, the point has been that some 'overzealous' aides and fans of the President-elect prevented AIT and it crew (possibly you) from doing media coverage of GMB. So don't get it twisted by blaming whoever for that. It is an attempt, and a very cheap one at that, to easily blame social media platform for any misinformation or rumor peddling.
Just like you aptly noted, the incident really happened as it took the intervention of the divine to make you and yours experience the "Daniel in the Lions' Den" experience.
You also acknowledged that AIT, to which you belong and represent did commit some professional recklessness and rascality in media activities prior to and in the build up to the elections. You even termed those reckless and rascally practices as 'campaign of lies' and hatred which the offended and the offenders had forgotten.
What a shame!!! Though rational minds do not support 'mob action' against people undertaking civil and professional services for their organisations or on personal basis, suffice to note that those offended by you and your organisation's inaction will always remember your misdeed towards and against them. Men will always be men and not and can never be G-d. Men will always remember and can forgive but will and cannot forget.
That you and your organisation now enjoy the goodwill of Buhari, which your principals and organisation sought both to discredit and even destroy with those malicious and entirely reckless documentaries should not be misconstrued that your organisation inaction never took place or that such didn't affect the person of Buhari and also the exalted office of the Presidency GMB sought to occupy during the phases of the last elections.
Your organisation goofed professionally and ethically. If I may ask you, where were you when your organisation was being reckless in the delivery of it professional services during the build up to the election? Sure you're part of the editorial team that sanctioned the open display and airing of such hate campaigns and shoddy documentaries.
One should have noted that 'you and your organisation deserve what you're now getting' but the goodwill GMB extended to you and yours afterwards put you and yours under a more and heavier weight of moral and professional burden. Your conscience is badly pricked and the essence of your organisation is now badly smeared.
Methinks you and your organisation should rather openly apologize to GMB and the Nigerian populace for the calculated insults and assaults you unleashed to see to the reelection bid of Goodluck Jonathan. Your onslaught eventually slaughtered the entire goodwill of Goodluck Jonathan in the last election. The results and the outcomes speak for themselves.
Lick you wounds, it serves you badly. Just like Balam, AIT was more than necessary blinded and motivated by the proceeds and reward of money and power to undertake the inglorious and ignoble adventure. Shame has now become the hallmark reward of your organisation's misadventure.
The more honorable thing for you (Ms. Owoeye-Wise) to do is to resign from that soulless organisation call AIT. So sad that a noble name like the Owoeye-Wise is being associated with a professionally crooked organisation like AIT. The LORD helps you all.
But why did you leave o out of GOD?
I quite agree His name is sacred and not to be called anyhow.Kindly let me know because I also know the name is always omitted on African magic channel 5 subtitles.
I am in the dark here
@9jaDY
Thanks for asking...you are very observant...pretty commendable.
And now to your observations:
'O' is intentionally omitted when writing the word G-D in honor and reverence of the Holy Name of the Most High, the Holy One of Israel and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Jah Jehovah, the LORD of Hosts.
It is a style of writing primarily adapted by the Jews and Jewish Scholars of Rabbinical Order to protect the sanity and chastity of the Name of the G-d of Israel from other deities and idols which are also dubbed 'gods' and 'goddesses' in whatever parlance, especially, when writing in English language.
Most of us using this style of writing G-d in our pieces are mostly Jews and Christians who appreciate the essence and traditions of the Judeo-Christian Faith and Practices.
When and where you see such style of writing, whether in individual write ups or institutional presentations, it only goes to show that such individuals (like me) and/or institutions (like Channel 5 which you mentioned) share certain sentiments for, have some interests in and uphold critical fundamental values to the Judeo-Christian faith.
Suffice to note that IT IS PURELY PERSONAL PREFERENCE and not a-must-do status. It is self-imposed and self-preferred style of writing. We users of this style of writing G-d are not necessarily religious zealots or bigots.
We just chose to be different and distinct in our style and class of writing and we are proud of this but humble to the praise and glory of the G-d we are wont to honor HIS Name.
It doesn't add nor subtract from who and what G-d, yes, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was, is and would forever be.
Hope this extensive explanation answers and satisfies your question and curiosity.
The LORD bless you real good.
AIT is a sickened and sickening dog-easily won , to fawn on any man. It is an organization that has no core character .It will change and sway and pander to power that be at every turn. This is the same dismaying institution that was the useful idiot of Goodluck Jonathan a few short weeks ago. Now , it is trying a pirouette to Buhari.This is a whore of an institution.
Thanks !! "lady Lara Oi' Wise".for the wisdom.Good journalism of this social media age needs " transparency at the speed of sound " - confirming Mr.A.Fagbure's observations & contribution.
Thank you, Lara Owoeye Wise, for unveiling the often sickening nature of the social media as a crazy place where some contributors let off steam unrestrained. There is so much crudity and rudeness on display that one wonders if some commentators had any parental upbringing at all. But why did you take so long to come out with your version of the Buhari/AIT issue? If your's was the truth, why would the APC react to the allegation as it did, lifting a ban that never was? I must confess my confusion, though I did not contribute to discussions on that particular issue. However, let's hope your revelation will positively influence those who rush to make comments without adequate reflection on the issue at stake.