There is something profoundly troubling about a society in which telling the truth can make a person a target. When journalism becomes a source of fear rather than a vehicle for accountability, the damage extends beyond the reporter to the public’s right to know. In Kogi East, where political loyalty and ethnic identity can become deeply intertwined, an uncomfortable question demands an answer: why has truth become so bitter in this generation?
I remember a time when an Igala man from UK text/call insulting me for my write up about Igala political behaviour and more recently incident at a political gathering in Idah, where a political goon took my phone and broke it beyond repairs, accusing me of writing too much and publishing reports against the Igala people.The experience was painful, not merely because of the cost of replacing the device, but because of the troubling message behind the accusation. How does reporting on public affairs become an offence against an entire people? Why should asking questions or expressing concerns about governance be interpreted as an act of hostility towards one’s own community?
The Igala people have a proud heritage, a rich history and legitimate aspirations for dignity and development. Those aspirations, however, cannot be protected by treating every criticism of a politician or public institution as an attack on Igala identity. A journalist can question a political leader without despising the people that leader represents. Indeed, communities that genuinely desire progress should welcome responsible scrutiny, because accountability exposes wrongdoing, strengthens institutions and helps citizens demand better leadership. Defending individuals at the expense of truth does not protect a community; it risks protecting the very failures that hold it back.
Nigeria’s Constitution protects freedom of expression and the press under Section 39, subject to applicable constitutional and legal limitations. That freedom does not excuse fabricated allegations, defamation or irresponsible reporting. Journalists must verify their claims, distinguish facts from opinions and give people a fair opportunity to respond. However, where a report is considered inaccurate or damaging, lawful remedies exist. Intimidation and violence are not substitutes for rebuttal, correction or legal action. The appropriate authorities should investigate credible allegations of attacks on journalists impartially, while political leaders and community figures must make it unmistakably clear that disagreement with a publication does not justify violence.
The deeper danger is what happens when fear begins to silence the press. A damaged phone may seem like a personal loss, but for a journalist it can represent a newsroom, an archive, a camera and a lifeline to sources. When reporters are intimidated, witnesses may withdraw, investigations may be abandoned and important questions may never reach the public. Kogi East deserves better than a political culture in which loyalty is demanded but accountability is resisted. Our people need roads, functional schools, healthcare, economic opportunities and transparent leadership, not an atmosphere in which journalists must fear punishment for raising legitimate concerns. Truth must be judged by evidence, not by whether it pleases those being scrutinised.
So I ask again: why is truth so bitter in this generation? Why should a person who writes about public affairs be accused of fighting his own people? No individual owns the truth, and no political interest should possess the power to determine which questions citizens may ask. My experience has strengthened my conviction that responsible journalism must continue to serve the public interest, with courage, fairness and evidence. Kogi East will not advance by silencing uncomfortable voices; it will advance when leaders answer difficult questions, citizens defend the right to accountability, and disagreement is settled through lawful and democratic means. When telling the truth becomes dangerous, silence may protect the individual temporarily, but it can leave an entire society paying the price.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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