ABUJA: Political activist and Lead Advocate of The Handshake Movement, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala, has condemned the growing comradeship between Clerics and members of the Nigerian political class.
This was as he called on Nigerian journalists to reclaim their independence and return to the core principles of investigative and unbiased reporting as a means of strengthening democracy and curbing bad governance.
In an open letter addressed to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, Wala, who recently joined the opposition African Democratic Congress ADC, said the power of the media lies in its ability “to inform, to question and to inspire change in society.”
He urged reporters to break their silence and hold leaders accountable, regardless of political or religious affiliations, stressing that ordinary Nigerians are counting on the press to serve as a true watchdog of democracy.
“The clergy and the political elite have become a two-headed monster, and their collaboration is destroying the fabric of Nigerian society,” Wala alleged, insisting that journalists must investigate the sources of their wealth and influence and expose the cost of their alliance on citizens.
According to him, the growing partnership between politicians and religious leaders has gone largely unchallenged by the media, often leaving ordinary Nigerians to suffer the consequences.
“When the media, the supposed watchdog, is either a silent bystander or, worse, an accomplice, the foundation of our democracy begins to crumble,” he warned.
He noted that the failure of the press to consistently pressure government into action has worsened insecurity across the country, leaving communities in fear while propaganda dominates public discourse.
Wala also cautioned against the commercialization of journalism, describing it as a betrayal of public trust.
“Journalism is a public service, not just a profit-making venture. When media outlets are owned and controlled by the very people they are meant to scrutinize, the watchdog becomes a pet, loyal only to its master,” he said.
The activist urged journalists to resist political and commercial pressures, restore professionalism, and reassert their role as defenders of democracy and the voice of the people.
