I received an email from a regular reader of my column several days ago asking why I stopped my “regular attacks” on Buhari. He told me he enjoyed my previous presentations and then added, “I have however observed in the last few weeks that you have a message so many readers can identify with instead of just running a commentary long on criticisms and short on solutions.”
Just this past Sunday, one of my followers on social media sent me a private message sharing a Roots TV trending video in which the presenter, my Boss, Dumebi Kachikwu made a public call to Aliko Dangote and other rich and powerful Nigerians inviting these leading entrepreneurs, business founders and hands-on economic experts to take charge of the coronavirus containment and recovery efforts. He told me he has shared the video to over a hundred friends of his after he watched the presentation severally and found that “it is the kind of message the country needs at a time like this.” He revealed that he finds every Roots video commentary since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic inspired, incisive and “out of this world.” Before signing off he said, “you guys are breaking new frontiers. I wish the authorities can pay attention.”
Since October 2018 when Roots TV made its debut in the Nigerian media space, it has made its mark as a reputable media organisation whose reports are authentic with an innovative presentation style and a team of reporters, presenters, editors and resource persons who understand domestic and international socio-political and economic dynamics.
From an in-depth coverage of events preceding the 2019 general elections, the elections proper and all the post-election battles within and outside the courts, Roots TV has shown an uncommon commitment to building a new Nigeria where elected officials and their appointees are held accountable. The resolve is to inspire the emergence of a nation where the rights of the citizens are respected and the provisions of the constitution regarding the relationship between the people and the state are held sacrosanct.
Roots TV has taken the lead through its various platforms in reporting several instances of human rights abuses across the country including but not limited to (alleged) killing of citizens by police and military operatives, the forceful takeover of community (or individual’s) property by government agencies, harassment of citizens by security operatives and denial of citizens’ right to free association and assembly.
Beyond just presenting interesting reports from the streets and across government secretariats, Roots TV has also taken the lead in providing clarity and perspectives on some of the most important issues of the day by bringing in informed analysts and experts to enlighten Nigerians and members of the global community on the most important developments of the day. Additionally, the media outfit has also never been shy to take a firm position on any major issue. Through its analytical opinion essays on critical socio-economic issues of the day, Roots TV has also stood firmly on the side of the Nigerian people, justice and fairness to all.
The establishment believes that it can only be relevant in the crowded media space only if its contents resonate with a broad spectrum of local and international audiences. As a policy outlook, Roots is only biased on the side of truth, justice and the dynamic interest of the Nigerian public irrespective of ethnic, religious, economic and cultural backgrounds.
Has there been a few missteps along the way? You can be sure. What is however not in doubt is that as a media company, Roots has consistently put the political and socio-economic interests of the Nigerian nation above the powerful sectional interests of a few oligarchs. Roots firm resolve to err on the side of patriotism has earned it the ire and contempt of the powerful but again, the company would never deviate from its founding mission and objectives.
A New Strategy for COVID -19 and Other Associated Threats to our Humanity
In continuing its sacred mission of putting the interest of the Nigerian public and by extension the human community first, Roots has evolved a new strategy which was the main point in the private correspondences shared at the beginning of this presentation.
Roots and its management has come to the objective conclusion that only an effective public advocacy campaign driven by conscientious Nigerians and public-spirited organisations can make the most of impacts at a time like this when the world is fighting a pandemic that has taken a huge toll on the global economy, people’s way of life and destroyed the economic livelihood of millions of families.
While it is true that the material losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is extensive, what is most painful is the loss in human lives which averages 2, 000+ daily over the past two weeks from various corners of the world.
Long before many in Nigeria heard a thing about the pandemic, Roots has, by paying attention to events in the Wuhan region of China where the viral attack began, alerted Nigerians through its many presentations about the danger that was about to overtake the world. Roots also harped on the need for public authorities across the country to prepare for the worst, get on the emergency footing and save the country from a cataclysmic disaster.
Apparently, no one listened and the virus got here and has continued to spread, catching scores of millions of Nigerians unawares and leaving us all vulnerable and most tragically, exposing us to acute hunger and other expressions of economic and social frustrations.
What Roots is Doing Differently
It is in the light of this sad development that Roots TV has again moved another gear and adopted the model of public advocacy using its platforms to sensitize Nigerians on what can be done to salvage the situation. Thankfully, millions of people are paying attention.
The concern is not pointing where the government failed for that would be energy-sapping and likely yield nothing at the end of the day. There is also little interest in criticising Muhammadu Buhari and his lethargic response to the crises for again, that would amount to a waste of valuable time, a luxury no one can afford at the moment. It is also not about picking holes in some of the exaggerated claims by officials of government across levels because if anything has been established by now, it is the fact that the government at best is confused about the scope and shape of what is happening in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated costs.
Roots TV’s very popular awareness and advocacy campaigns are to remind us of what we can do as individuals to make sure those who are in a position to help offer whatever help they can to the millions of less-privileged Nigerians who are the biggest victims of this pandemic. It is about seeing that no Nigerian is allowed to starve to death during this pandemic; sharing the little we have with those who do not have.
The message is about shunning greed, selfishness and refusing to give in to fear or other threats of mammon. It is about getting us ready for what is to come in the heat of the raging war and what follows next. Believe you me; mankind has not seen the end of this. What is in the offing is still unfolding but here is one thing I can assure you: if we stay strong and rooted to our shared humanity, we shall overcome whatever comes and emerge stronger.
A Focus on the key Message
The central message of Roots TV at a time like this is the urgency of embracing our common humanity, appreciating how interconnected we all are and why we must come together to defeat a common enemy, conscious of the fact that it is only when we do what we can irrespective of our cultural, ethnic and religious differences can we stand any chance of winning this invisible war.
In case you have forgotten, here is what we can all do to emerge stronger from this: wash our hands as often as possible and observe all standard protocols put in place by government’s agencies and international health organisations, ignore the rumours and be our brothers’ keepers. As Queen Elizabeth observed in her speech yesterday, we can only be confident of victory when we watch out for each other.
Mankind has passed through several dark moments in its long history. This sadly is one of such moments when we have to hobble inside our shelters, undertake chores we did not originally sign up for, assure the weary in heart and comfort the sorrowful. We are all in it together and together, we shall win.
As we have seen in the inspired messages shared by Roots TV, hope and love should be the most important and readily available commodities during this time of heart-wrecking despair.
