CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The role of the press in many societies cannot be undermined. In many societies the press play’s a crucial role of shaping the civil governance of the society. In Nigeria, section 22 of the 1999 constitution as amended sanctifies the role of the press as being to ensure the accountability of government at all levels to the people. This salvage the relationship between the press and the society.

The press can never be separated from Nigeria’s long walk to democracy. It was an effective tool in the hand of the proponents of democracy, to mobilize the ragtag and the bobtails against the smoking guns of the military to return them to their neural habitat, the Barrack. Sequel to the unfortunate events of January 15, 1966 when some elements within the Nigerian military truncated the pioneer democratic leadership the country was ruled by a succession of military Heads of State. This continues until 1979 when Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to the democratic elected government, led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari. In 1983 a military coup ousted Alhaji Shehu Shagari and General Buhari took over power to retune Nigeria to yet another era of military rule.

This continued until military Government under the leadership of General Abdusalam Abubakar handed over power to General   to general Obasanjo (Rtd) on the 29th of May 1999 and democracy has thriving since then.

Throughout this yo – yo period of military and democratically elected leadership in Nigeria, the pres just like the Biblical voice in the wilderness had continued  to cry – out on the need to exist in  a country where the people are able to elect the leader of their choice in a free and fair manner.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The press is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate of the realm, the others being the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary; the role of the press is also reflected in section 22 of the 1999 constitution as an institution that is changed the responsibility to police over the fundamental objectives and direct principles of state, police, as well as citizens fundamental human rights. Throughout the turbulent years of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the press obviously become the last hope of the common man  on the street.

This was because the military government had the power to override the law courts in the land.

the press was the only institution in the land that rallied the cacophony of voice to speaks  the truth to the military and dared to asked them to retune to the barracks  ( Nwankwo: 2004).

In hind sight, it is obvious that the press paid a pretty high price to attempt to speak up for the people. The military government under general Buhari tenure promulgated the infamous decree of 1984 which many saw as an anti-press decree.

Numerous journalists were arrested tortured tailed and some oven lost their like in the line of duty.

Some notable journalists who were arrested and detained without due process and trial includes Tunji Thomason, Chris Mama Dan Bala, Abu Eghosa  Alimufua,  even Mrs Chris Anyanwo (spent about six years in prison).

The notable case on record is the case of Dele Giwa who was killed by letter bomb base on his out spoken against the military leadership of Ibrahim Babaginda.

the reason of all these is that these journalists reported news stories about the ulgy trends of activities of military leaders  by taking their views concerning issues of nationals polite  (Sokari; 2010).

1.3     OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The following are the specific objective of the study.

1. To know how the press succeeded in bringing sanity into Nigeria politics from the military era to the present advent of democracy.
2. To explain and represent the role of the Nigerian press in sustaining true democratic political society in Nigeria.
3. To proffer solution to some of the problems faced by journalists in the discharge of their constitutional role in present era.
4. To x –ray the challenges of the Nigerian press in the struggle for substantive democratic rule from 1996 to 1999 as concerned the present era, in order to reflect the future.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is interesting because it deal with the role of the Nigerian press played, in restoring democratic government in       Nigeria from 1996 to 1999.

This study also discovered some of the challenges, as   faced by the Nigerian press; some of these challenges are        threat to      life, jail terns, and death cases of some journalists        in cause of      upholding democratic cavity of Nigeria state.

The study stands for test of time because what becomes   Nigerian state      today, was by the effort of the press;    this can       be relate back from the colonial era, when the nationalists are using the press to campaign for Nigerian in dependence. Nationalist like chief Nnamdi Azikiwe      uses the press to   proposed to the proposed to the  masters on what the masses want as against their indecisive rule of the colonial   masters. The press had always being the voice of the people, is only medium that always at the front run to stand for the good of the people, except in a society where the press as being part of the national government. Even in such societies, few individual uses the press to express their divergent opinion on national issues.  In major societies the press is the voice to be held.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study is guided by the followings  questions

1. How did the Nigerian press played the role in bringing the sanity into Nigeria state?
2. What can the press do in this modern era to sustain a democratic society as Nigeria?
3. What are the challenges the Nigerian press faced during the struggle for tune democracy in Nigeria?
4. Why did the press struggle for entrenchment of democratic government in Nigeria?

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is a content analysis which base on the printing    press (Newspapers and magazines) and other notable journals and books.

This newspapers and magazines are national dailies and        weekly magazines. The dailies are finch and the Guardian     newspapers, and the magazines are news watch and Tell           magazine.

This news papers and magazine are owned by private individuals. This work took a look at the news stories that    appeared in this newspaper and magazines concerning           regimes as concerned this present ear. This study made its     findings from these newspapers and the magazine in a    period of four years. The editions are 1993 to 1999 were           collected year       by year. Each edition was only revived with        the issue that concerned the struggle for true democracy.

1.7     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study was undertaken under a rigorous and tedious       professional scrutiny, with academic supervision which was      interrupted by assignment and test.

The study was also limited by non direction of the student to          get needed material as concerned the topic, both in the    polytechnic. The study centered on government related           issues in mass communication media thus past research        work on this topic are few.

The student researcher inability to leave the polytechnic        premises regularly limits the study. And also lack of finance   to gathered material needed to carryout the study also           limited this study.

1.8  DEFINITION OF TERMS

Press: These are all media of mass communication that          uses paper technology to deliver message.

Constitution:  The basic principles, rules, regulations and      procedures by which as state is established and governed.

Democracy:  A system of government in which every     members     of the society are well represented in the          government.

State:  A geographical society which is guided by laws, conversion ethics etc.

Military regime: The tenure of a military leader

Organs of the state: The three bodies that governed the          state, i.e. the executive, legislatures, and the judiciary.