Tag: Omatseye

Multiple award-winning columnist and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Mr. Sam Omatseye, has backed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its fight against corruption.

The frontline writer expressed support for the anti-graft agency, over the weekend, when he delivered the College of Humanities lecture at the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.

In the lecture: The rule of law in an age of impunity, Omatseye said: “While the poor grovelled in their carpetless hovels and lightless homes at night, these men romped in nameless opulence. They soared in private jets, while the poor choked in danfos that trundled on potholes. They had power from diesel-fuelled, quietly whirring generators while the poor sweated at home, in spite of their sputtering generators known as ‘I better pass my neighbour’. Their children’s minds were nourished in the tony schools of the Western world, while the average Nigerian could not pay fees to schools, the quality of which education was sometimes only a little better than phony.”

He added: “So, if these big men stole so much and advertised it with impunity, why not yank them from their purloined palaces and squeeze them into the few centimetre-square apartments, known as the jail room? Forget the law, because the thieves, in the first case, had contempt for the law when they committed the crimes.”

Omatseye condemned Nigerians’ contempt for the rule of law under the past military era and even currently.

The award-winning writer faulted the Fulani herdsmen’s killings and abduction for marriage in the North, among others.

He faulted the presence of multiple constitutional institutions operating within the country as factors aiding such impunity.

Omatseye said: “In our society in Nigeria, the notion of the rule of law is problematic for historical reasons. One: we have had monarchy among us for centuries and the monarchical sensibility is still resonant and potent… Two: we have had military dictatorship since independence and its martial impulses are still undeniable, in spite of our strong claims to the republican spirit…

“The law still has to come to terms with some of the sources of law, such as faith, tribe and monarchy in a republican setting.

“So, we live in a conflict of legal universes in which, on the surface, we pledge allegiance to the superiority of the constitution, which is the only body of laws that binds us together – whatever our tribes, faith, regions or kings. But because of our parochial fidelities, the constitution is abstract. We regard it as a law that matters only when it comes to such matters that do not conflict with the mores and dictates of our tribes or faith or monarchy.”

The writer urged Nigerians to be careful in their quest for jailing the looters, without following due process of the law so that justice can take its course, regardless of the personal misgivings towards the law.

He said: “Whatever we do, we have to be careful not to make the law a scapegoat and, if we do that, we install anarchy. We must always know that the law will haunt us once we treat it with contempt… So, when majority of Nigerians did not care what the law said and merely wanted the criminals to be punished, they did not understand the power of precedent. If we neglect the law to catch a true thief, a murderer will refer to that example to escape justice… That exactly is what we should pursue: how to make law and justice meet.”

Omatseye added: “I believe that the law is as important as the gravitas of the leadership and how they carry the mass of the people on the wave of their moral high values… and we are bound to the violence of the paedophile, the religious bigot, the impunity of the public thief and all of that until we have the sort of political elite that can coalesce for one Nigeria and enact a cohesive body of laws.”

Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board Sam Omatseye will, today, deliver this year’s College of Humanities Lecture of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) at its Ikeji-Arakeji campus in Osun State.

Omatseye, an award-winning columnist and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, will speak on: “The rule of law in an age of impunity”.

The event is coordinated by the Dean of the College of Humanities, Prof. Richard Olaniyan. Vice chancellor Prof. Sola Fajana will chair the occasion.

The Nation Editorial Board’s Chairman, Sam Omatseye, has sued The Sun Publishing Limited and  Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos for alleged defamation.

He is demanding N2 billion damages.

The claimant, a graduate of History from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, a poet, playwright, novelist, journalist and columnist of many years standing, said The Sun and New Telegraph, published by the defendants, defamed him.

Omatseye, who has taught in Metropolitan State College, Denver, University of Colorado and University of Denver in United States of America and has won several fellowships and awards, is demanding a retraction of the “malicious” publications.

The allegedly offensive reports were published in Daily Sun and New Telegraph of October 13.

They had the headlines: “Call Omatseye to order, Kalu tells Tinubu…says The Nation embarrassment to journalism” and “Call Omatseye to order, Kalu’s aide advises Tinubu.”

Part of The Sun publications reads: “We wonder how a supposedly seasoned writer and editorial board chair could not distinguish between propaganda and purely professional reportage in his pecuniary bohemianism. This is indeed unprofessionalism demonstrated by rascally Omatseye.

“….In any case, is Omatseye saying that Tinubu, as the publisher of The Nation, determines what the newspaper publishes? If that is the convention in his organisation, it is an entirely different case in The Sun and New Telegraph titles, as Kalu has never interfered in the editorial policy and content of the titles in his newspaper establishments.

“In addition, for purposes of argument, even if that was the routine, it is not against the ethics of journalism for publishers to kill stories as expected by Omatseye, who know full well that Kalu does not meddle in his publications?

“We sympathise with brazen Omatseye on grounds of his not being a trained journalist or even a news reporter so as to understand the distinction between the news reporting and poetry, which incapacitates his knowledge of the rudiments of the calling which all Mass Communication sophomores know.

“It is also unfortunate that since Omatseye returned from America and was rehabilitated by a few past and present governors, he has turned himself to a rabid defence dog for his new benefactors….”

The claimant, through his lawyer Festus Keyamo, said the words in their natural and ordinary meaning (by direct reference and innuendos) meant and were understood to mean that he is a charlatan, an impostor, a fake personality, a dubious person whose stock in trade is sycophancy and dishonesty, a mudslinging and dangerous personality and a corrupt and uncivilised person.

“The libellous publication by the defendant was widely circulated and read by millions of people in the world and particularly in Nigeria where the claimant has several associates, friends, family and professional colleagues.

“By reason of the publication of the words…, the claimant has been seriously injured in his character, credit, reputation and integrity and had been brought to public scandal, odium and contempt and has suffered damages,” Omatseye said.

The claimant averred that the libellous materials as shown in “the Daily Sun” were published in the ordinary course of business and accordingly offered for sale to the public.

Omatseye added that he “shall contend at the trial that the action of the defendant was motivated by malice and with intent to undermine and malign the goodwill and popularity enjoyed by the claimant”.

According to him, the newspapers knew the libellous publications were untrue, unfounded and cannot be substantiated.

Omatseye said immediately after the materials were published, he received numerous telephone calls from professional colleagues, international associates, multinational organisations, relations, friends and religious leaders “expressing their utmost disgust and contempt at the claimant’s alleged disgraceful, unpatriotic and sacrilegious conducts” and questioned his integrity.

“The spurious allegations made by the defendant are untrue and actuated by malice with intent to malign and undermine the claimant’s reputation,” he said.

According to Omatseye, The Sun did not conduct any investigation into the truthfulness of the allegations before publishing them.

It also did not offer the claimant any opportunity to respond to the allegations before publishing them, he said.

“By publishing the allegations in a sensational screaming caption, the defendant evinced the intention to malign the claimant and drag his reputation in the mud,” Omatseye said.

The claimant averred that he has suffered tremendous damage to his reputation, adding that if the defendant is not restrained, it will further publish injurious articles against him.

He sought a declaration that the publication is libellous.

Omatseye also demanded N1 billion each from The Sun and New Telegraph “being damages for the words published of and concerning the claimant which are libellous by direct reference and innuendo…”

He sought an order for a retraction and an unreserved apology by the defendants for the publications.

Omatseye prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the newspapers, whether by themselves, agents, privies or servants from further publishing or causing to be published any libellous, injurious or defamatory words against him.

Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Mr. Sam Omatseye has urged journalism and mass communication students  to uphold integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Omatseye spoke while delivering the first Distinguished Guest Lecture of the School of Communication of the Lagos State University (LASUSOC) yesterday.

The lecture, held at the university’s Surulere campus, was themed: “The Legal and Ethical Perspectives of the media coverage of the 2015 general election”.

Omatseye condemned the spate of hate advertisements during the campaigns and called on necessary institutions to rise to their tasks of censorship for ethical purposes.

He referred to the seeming quietness of the many media outlets about the fall out of the last administration, especially on the missing Chibok girls and commended the few who stood out through commentaries, analysis and editorials.

The award-winning writer, poet and author told the students to be careful when upholding their integrity, while seeking to be objective.

“I have not for one day believed that there is anything called objectivity. If a person has stolen and it’s proven, why should I be looking for his own opinion? We must seek genuine posterity of the media,” he said.

Omatseye, who is also a member of the governing council of LASU, advised aspiring journalists to pay attention to details and verify facts to avoid deception in the sensitive profession.

“The reporter has to decide anytime he or she is trapped in the house, to make a decision that will not set the house on fire.”

Dean of SOC, Associate Prof Durotimi Williams Olatunji, who described Omatseye as a worthy role model for his students said the lecture series was inaugurated to make students see people’s achievements and strive to surpass them.

Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board Mr. Sam Omatseye will today deliver the lecture of the School of Communication of the Lagos State University (LASU).

He will speak on the topic: “The Legal and Ethical Perspectives in the media coverage of the 2015 presidential election. It is the first in the lecture series.”

THE investiture of Chairman of The Nation’s Editorial Board, Mr. Sam Omatseye, as honorary fellow of Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) holds today at the main auditorium of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, by 11 am.

The academy is Nigeria’s apex body for scholars and academics.

Omatseye is the only honorary fellow chosen this year for distinguishing himself in his field of endeavour.

Two regular fellows will also be inducted at the event, which is the academy’s 17th Convocation, Scientific Session and Investiture.