It promises to be an exciting session on Sunday April 14, 2024 as the stage is set for an enlightened discourse targeted to spotlight the farmiliar struggle between the Jackboot and the Fourth Estate of the realm in Nigeria.
The event is the popular monthly interview programme, Boiling Point Arena where notable Kaduna-based activist, Senator Shehu Sani and eminent media professional/Columnist, Mr Bola Bolawole will mount the podium to do justice on the subject matter.
The platform for the 18th edition of Boiling Point Arena is via Zoom as well as terrestrial live transmission on a radio station, SWEET 107.1FM. Time is 8pm and it is for a two-hour duration.
The once-in-a-month online show which debuted in November 2022 is the brainchild of Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional and accomplished public relations strategist with 34 years multi-varied experience spanning the media, banking and education sectors.
The topic of discourse is: “Democracy: The Media Under Siege? Travails of Journalist Segun Olatunji in Military Detention”
The duo of Senator Shehu Sani who is till date one of the most consistent advocate of the people and Mr Bola Bolawole, a former Deputy Editor-in-chief of Punch Newspapers, are to offer perspectives on the dangers posed to Nigeria’s current democracy through clamp down on freedom of the press and press freedom.
This particular edition will brainstorm on the unfolding issues arising from the rather strange abduction of First News Online Editor, Mr Segun Olatunji before his eventual release from military detention.
A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola is the Keynote Speaker to herald the discourse in his capacity as the Chairman, Council of Royals and Elders.
Sporadic attacks against the media by government at all levels and harassment of journalists in line of duty in Nigeria have become a source of worry to right thinking individuals and corporate bodies including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Guild of Editors, International Press Institute and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
The Jackboot represents the spirit or policy of militarism or totalitarianism whereby agents of government persistently oppress media professionals to hinder performance of their watchdog roles on government.
The term, Fourth Estate or fourth power, refers to the press and news media both in explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues.
