The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Peter Esuh, has expressed concern over inflammatory media reactions trailing the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan, describing media feasting on the matter as nauseating.
Besides, the former governorship aspirant took a swipe at a series of media outbursts against former Governor Udom Emmanuel in his alleged N700 billion fraud case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that such denigration of former leaders was damaging to the country’s image in the international community.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in his office, Esuh, a Professor of Corporate Communication, Marketing and Applied Rhetorics, lamented that “most Nigerians use social media which are global media to denigrate their leaders, without paying heed to their negative consequences in the global community.”
“I’m worried about the way we react to issues as Nigerians. Let me use this opportunity to say that traditional medium of communication has a way of protecting a country.
“I have been watching all these media houses, international media houses, I know what mainstream media could do and I also know what what traditional media could do. I have found that the rate at which we disparage our leaders in contemporary Nigerian society is so alarming that it has affected our image internationally.
“Most of our people do not know that the social media are global media. We just think that when we type something on Twitter, it’s only seen here and once we go on Facebook, it is only seen here. These are all global media and are ways to which the global village has been actualised,” he stressed.
Citing specific instances, Prof Esuh, decried the manner that Influencers, Bloggers and TV commentators who parade as journalists, and even mainstream journalists, handled the invitation extended to Mr Emmanuel by EFCC lamenting that no investigation and balancing was done before putting out such highly sensational reports on the issue.
While listing out the numerous life-touching impactful projects of the former Governor Emmanuel’s administration in Akwa Ibom State, he said he expected the media to have professionally weighed the alleged N700billion against the allocations received during Emmanuel’s tenure in office and the achievements recorded, to be better equipped to inform Nigerians as responsible professionals
He further expressed regret that none of those mentioned, including the mainstream journalists, were able to find out from the anti-graft website before reporting the news of the former governor’s arrest, adding that such speaks volume about the callousness of Nigerian society.
“The other day, even mainstream media carried the news of Udom Emmanuel’s arrest and they did not border to show the distinction between invitation and arrest.
“How many journalists in Nigeria including mainstream journalists have taken time to visit the EFCC’s Website? When you get to the Website, you will see the news of the day; who has been arrested, who is in court and the number of court cases and all that.
“And then people quickly went to say that the former governor of Akwa Ibom State was arrested by the EFCC, when the man was in his house. Meanwhile, there was no such report on the EFCC website. This speaks volume of the callousness of our society. So, it is time to begin to put things in perspective. A journalist must be trained, you cannot walk in from anywhere and enter the profession of journalism without proper training.”
Citing another poorly handled issue concerning the nation’s leaders, Professor Esuh cited the recent sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagha. The academic argued that the allegation made suggested a case of sexual advancement rather than harassment.
He clarified that harassment, by definition, entails persistent and unwelcome advances, expressing disappointment that the media failed to make the distinction.
The professor faulted journalists for what he described as a lack of professional rigour in reporting sensitive matters, stating that such mischaracterization misleads the public and distorts reality. He emphasized that media professionals should be adequately informed to uphold accuracy in framing issues rather than sensationalizing claims.
According to him, this failure reflects a worrying trend where narratives are shaped by public sentiment rather than facts, ultimately undermining journalistic integrity. Beyond misrepresentation, the professor also decried the negative image such indiscriminate reporting projects to the international community.
He warned that portraying Nigerian leaders unfairly in global discourse damages the country’s reputation and credibility. He, therefore, called for greater responsibility in news reportage, charging the media to prioritize fact-based journalism over sensationalism to safeguard national dignity and professional ethics.
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