THE NIGERIA MEDIA UNDER MILITARY RULE

THE NIGERIA MEDIA UNDER MILITARY RULE  (A CASE STUDY OF ABACHA ERA/REGIME)

ABSTRACT

The interim national government headed by chief Earnest Shonekan popularly known as “ING” was a child of circumstances the regime under general Sani Abacha murdered the child of circumstance. And the regime was regard as a child of necessity. But the antecedent that led to the birth of both children was the announcement of the June 12 Mandate of 1993. The announcement of the June 12, Presidential general election of 1993 can never be wiped away from the book of word history neither can it easily be erased from the mind of the Nigerians who gave the mandate. And the June 12 of 1993 controversial issue which attracted many of criticism from all over the world and led to whatsoever sanction that was placed on Nigerian during Abacaha regime. Abacha in his public broadcast to Nigerians, promised that his administration being a child of necessity was born with new packages that will necessitate a suitable democratically elected government, there would be the  appointment of the constitutional review committee followed by the establishment of national constitutional body that would come out with a constitution that would reflect geographical heterogeneity of Nigeria. But the question is, why was the relationship between the child of necessity and the media? The advancement of any society whether political, economical, educational and soci-cultural development is dependent on the available of adequate information to the members of the public. And the chief custodian of the free market place of ideals is the media. But when the height of free market place of ideals is denied, the society cannot be carried along in the development governmental activities in the state. IBB’s military regime fermented the media over eight years and even prevented the psyche of the media so much that the voice of he media was not different this is because military culture had common breast which they suck, moreover, during Abacha’s first broadcast he used IBB’s phrases throughput. However, this study will try as much as possible to highlight the various torment of the media under the administration of Abacha. The study is highly proposed towards excavating the or deals and predicaments of the Nigeria media, under Abacha military regime. These predicaments are to be examined under the broad categories of extra- legal measures against the media. Elicitation of obnoxious decrees against the media and finally proscription of media houses.