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Title:The mass media and the struggle for democracy in Africa: the Nigerian experience
Authors:Ngara, Christopher Ochanja
Esebonu, Edward Ndem
Year:2012
Periodical:Nordic Journal of African Studies (ISSN 1459-9465)
Volume:21
Issue:4
Pages:183-198
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:mass media
democratization
military regimes
protest
1990-1999
External link:https://njas.fi/njas/article/view/170/161
Abstract:This paper examines the role of the mass media in the struggle for civil democratic rule in Africa with a special focus on Nigeria during the period 1993-1999. For the most part of its post-independence existence Nigeria has been under military rule. But the years 1993-1999 were marked by an unprecedented military dictatorship leading to the suppression of democratic forces and the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential elections, which were generally believed to be free and fair. The mass media fought for the nation's independence and stood diametrically opposed to continued military rule. To achieve this, the media extensively and effectively employed antimilitary publications and reportage at the risk of losing lives in order to mobilize civil society against the military juntas. This resulted in a series of mass protest, industrial strife, and civil disturbance across the country. In spite of the hostile environment created by the military, including arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists, political assassination, extra-judicial killings, abuse of human rights, closure of media houses, and seizure of publications, the Nigerian media kept its resilience in the anti-military struggle. The paper concludes that the struggle by the mass media against the military regime between 1993 and 1999 significantly tarnished the image of the Nigerian military junta and resulted in both international and domestic pressures that eventually forced the military to cede power to a democratically elected government in 1999. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]
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