Date: 2015-06-29

A popular saying goes thus "There is no point crying over a spoilt milk". This best describes the energy a widely read newspaper in the country has channelled towards dishing out negative publications about the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki in the past two weeks.

There is no denying the fact that Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of the Nation Newspapers, is owned by a Chieftain and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and since it was widely reported that the former Lagos State Governor backed Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate Presidency which he eventually lost, the paper has decided to dedicate a large part of its pages at battering Saraki's image.

Like they say "He who pays the piper dictates the tune", Tinubu is obviously angry with the outcome of the National Assembly elections as his preferred candidates, Senator Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila didn't emerge. He has however chosen to use one of his tools (The Nation Newspaper) to publicly showcase his displeasure.

To state things right, Saraki emerged the leader of the 8th legislature constitutionally after 51 Senators present (from both APC and PDP) in the Upper Chamber unanimously agreed to follow his leadership while the other 57 APC senators were busy at the International Conference Centre waiting for a farce meeting.

The presidency and even the party leadership accepted the outcome but for some few ones reportedly backed by Tinubu, who have continuously ridiculed themselves all in the name of expressing displeasure over Saraki's emergence.

It is now three weeks since the election and Tinubu and his comrades in the Assembly are yet to come to terms that the Senate president's office has been occupied and Saraki has even hit the ground running in his bid to lead a historic legislature that is poised at ameliorating the worrisome situation the past administration left the country.

Publishing negative reports against the senate president is totally a waste of time and resources which could obviously be directed towards the reportage of more important issues that will assist the new administration in its bid to deliver the desired change Nigerians yearn for by voting out an incumbent government.

Among the numerous publications in weeks preceding Saraki's emergence, one particularly comes to mind, "The dark side of desire" written by Olatunji Ololade. This article totally lacks objectivity and is full of hate speech towards the country's number three citizen. Going as far as suggesting Saraki's expulsion from the ruling party is uncalled for and clearly portrays a tabloid like "The Nation" as enemy of progress.

Saraki has already started well against all odds with the inauguration of two committees charged towards charting a new course for the 8th legislature. He has also moved a step higher by paving way for a more transparent and democratic assembly with his handling of the House Principal Officers issue which some members of the APC felt should be settled with mere nomination through a letter.

One pertinent point of note is that, come what may, the 8th legislature will surely come good by weathering the storm, clearing the obstacles before it and make Nigerians who elected them proud. Saraki has said it times without number that fellow countrymen expect a lot from them(lawmakers) and they will not disappoint.

This shows the type of purposeful leadership he intends to render the country no matter the negativity some sections feel towards him. Saraki's emergence was ordained by God Almighty, his success is not negotiable while those poised to bring him down through baseless publications are no doubt embarking on a futile journey.

The Nation Newspaper is no doubt a well respected tabloid but concentrating on negative reports about Senator Saraki casts a dark shadow on the reputation of the tabloid. Journalism is a noble profession no doubt but when a newspaper or media organisation throws professionalism into the wind, it no doubt casts aspersion on the nobility of the profession. It is high time the Nation stopped this brazen hate campaign and concentrate on a dignifying venture rather than needlessly attacking a personality who God has chosen to be a major player in the current bid to change the highly battered system bequeathed to President Mohammadu Buhari by the former administration.

Billiameen Obafunsho, a journalist writes from ilorin.