Sahara Reporters vs Okonjo-Iweala: What Do We Make of This? (Part 2)
In an earlier article, I drew attention to my observations about Sahara Reporters’ reportage of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. I had observed that as far as Sahara Reporters is concerned, Madam Iweala has not done much to deserve positive reportage. When I first noticed this trend in the course of my routine media analysis, I embarked on an independent survey so I could speak from an informed perspective.
Sampling the medium’s coverage of the Finance Minister over a two-year period, I discovered 41 mentions out of which 32 are negative, 8 indifferent and only 1 positive. I highlighted my findings in a piece which was published in September 2013. Ordinarily, one would think that an empirical report like that would cause the medium to rethink its strategy. It is over six months now since I first made that observation and unfortunately, little or nothing has changed. Sahara Reporters has not ceased to deliberately paint the Minister of Finance in bad light by filling the air waves with negative stories, most of which are usually unfounded or at best, blown out of proportion.
Like I pointed out earlier, I wouldn’t voice my opinion on this matter if I had not gathered verifiable data. To this end, I have included an updated record of my findings below so that you can see things for yourself and draw your conclusions:
HEADLINES, DATE OF PUBLICATION, DETAILS OF MENTION TILT
Oil Subsidy Is Fiction-Okonjo Iweala Is Here To Seduce People To Accept The Callous “Oil Subsidy” Removal-Tam David West-TheNEWS
Oct 28, 2011
Professor Tam David-West alleged that Okonjo-Iweala is “sermonising to seduce people to accept the callous oil subsidy removal.”
Negative
AUDIO: Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Caught On Phone-Tap, Lying, Playing Dumb
Jan 5, 2012
Sahara Reporters alleges that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala played the dumb when she was called to tell Nigerians about the fuel subsidies.
Negative
VIDEO: “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Is Not An Economist, She Is A Demographer”-Occupy Nigeria-Lagos Day 02
Jan 15, 2012
A protester at #OccupyNigeria says that Okonjo-Iweala is not an economist but a demographer.
Negative
Ngozi Okonjo-iweala Must Resign – Prof. Tam David West
Feb 5, 2012
Prof. Tam David West called on NOI to resign her appointment.
Negative
Fuel Subsidy: UAD Calls For Sacking of Okonjo-Iweala, Allison-Madueke; Urges Masses To Be Ready For Further Action
Mar 7, 2012
UAD calls for the sack of Dr. Iweala and others over their role in the subsidy row.
Negative
World Bank Presidency: Obama Rejects Iweala Nominates South Korean-born Jim Yong Kim
Mar 24, 2012
The report maliciously screams that President Obama is not comfortable with NOI’s candidacy for the World Bank.
Negative
World Bank Presidency: Ghana, Uganda Spurn Okonjo-Iweala’s Candidacy
Mar 25, 2012
SR alleges that Ghana and Uganda reject Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy for the World Bank.
Negative
#OccupyNigeria: Why Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Should Be The Next President Of The World Bank By Ikhide R. Ikheloa
April 1, 2012
An opinion writer contends that when NOI departs for the World Bank, she will be leaving Nigeria much worse than she found it.
Negative
Go, Ngo, Go: This Battle Is Not Yours By Sonala Olumhense
April 1, 2012
The writer opines that there are two sides to NOI; “The first is the one who, when she is in Washington, DC, longs to come home, where home is Nigeria. The other is the one who, when she is in Nigeria, longs desperately for home, home being Washington, DC”.
Negative
Fuel Subsidy Fallout: Combat Corruption, Sack Okonjo-Iweala, Allison-Madueke, Civil Society Organizations Tell Jonathan
April 20, 2012
The United Action for Democracy (UAD) calls for the sack of NOI and some members of the federal cabinet for their role in the fuel subsidy debacle.
Negative
FOI: Okonjo-Iweala May Be Dragged To Court To Explain Lavish Expenditure On Funeral of Father-In-Law
April 24, 2012
CPC spokesman wants to know how much was spent on the burial of NOI’s Father-In-Law.
Negative
The Jailing Of James Ibori
April 25, 2012
The opinion writer describes NOI’s World Bank presidency run as “excessive ambition and naivety”.
Negative
Power Outage Mars South-South Economic Summit As President Jonathan, Paul Kagame, Okonjo-Iweala, Shun Event
April 27, 2012
NOI was reported absent on the first day of the South-South economic summit.
Indifferent
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: Rejected Abroad, Resented At Home
May 1, 2012
The writer criticises the economic policies of NOI in strong terms.
Negative
Is Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Stupidly Intelligent?
May 15, 2012
This opinion article questions NOI’s actions and inactions on the oil subsidy saga.
Negative
Okonjo-Iweala Insists On ‘Transparency And Careful Management’ Of Nigeria’s Resources, Spokesman Says
July 30, 2012
NOI reassured that the 2012 budget is being managed in a way that protects and enhances the best interests of the country.
Indifferent
Okonjo-Iweala And The Budget Of Abracadabra By Simbo Olorunfemi
July 24, 2012
The article questions the rationale behind the preparation of 2013 budget when the one for 2012 has not been fully implemented.
Negative
Budget Implementation Is Failing To Achieve Citizens’ Human Rights, SERAP Tells Finance Minister
July 31, 2012
A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenged NOI’s statement about 2012 budget.
Negative
PHOTONEWS: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala At The Olympics Sport Of Lying About Budget Implementation
Aug 2, 2012
SR maliciously captioned the minister’s picture in the National Assembly. SR claimed that her eyes were popping as she claimed that she was “misquoted” by the media when she stated that the 2012 budget has recorded 56% implementation.
Negative
Ngozi Iweala: Nigeria’s Weakest Link
Oct 21, 2012
Sonala Olumhense described the minister, whom he called “Double duty” minister, as the weakest link in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.
Negative
Anti-Corruption Group Storms Ministry Finance To Demand Removal Of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Over Oil Subsidy Payment Scams
Nov 8, 2012
Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network, Dino Melaye led hundreds of protesters to demand for the sack of the minister.
Negative
Jonathan: Combating Corruption By Conversation
Dec 12, 2012
A reaction to the clamour for the sack of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, and the Minister responsible for the Niger Delta, Mr. Godspower Orubebe.
Indifferent
Okonjo-Iweala Pledges Action Against Pension Racketeers
Dec 12, 2012
NOI stressed that it is a crime to defraud helpless, old people.
Positive
Sucker Punch: Ten Provocative Demands from Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to President Jonathan
Dec 12, 2012
The writer presents what he termed “ten provocative demands from Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to President Jonathan”
Negative
Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s Statement Regarding Release Of Her Kidnapped Mother
Dec 14, 2012
The minister issued a press statement where she confirmed that her mother, Professor Mrs Kamene Okonjo, has been freed by her abductors.
Indifferent
Still On Okonjo-Iweala Over Controversial Appointments By Yushau A. Shuaib
Mar 5, 2013
The piece laments what it terms the ‘biafranization’ of top public offices by Okonjo-Iweala.
Negative
Assault On Free Speech Continues, As Okonjo-Iweala Masterminds Sacking of NEMA Image Maker
April 17, 2013
The report alleges that NOI has engineered the sacking of Yushaib Shuaib, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Negative
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s World- All Things Being Equal, Okonjo-Iwealla Continues To Bungle Facts
April 23, 2013
The commentary picks hole in the minister’s assertion that all things being equal Nigeria’s economy is on the right path. The commentary further accuses her of lying over the figures she quoted.
Negative
Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala Tip Aig-Imoukhuede As Next CBN Governor
April 23, 2013
The report states that Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, enjoys the support of NOI and President Jonathan to become the new CBN Governor after the expiration of the tenure of Mallam Sanusi.
Indifferent
Press Freedom, Yushau Shuaib And Okonjo-Iweala
April 26, 2013
Abdullahi Yunusa, a friend of Yushau Shuaib eulogises Shuaib and expresses worry over NOI’s alleged attempt to use her office to maltreat a patriotic Nigerians of Shuaib’s standing.
Negative
Stable Electricity Still a Decade Away for Nigeria By Toyin Dawodu
May 4, 2012
The writer quotes Okonjo-Iweala as saying that Nigeria’s power is heavily subsidized and investors want tariffs to match the cost of producing power.
Indifferent
The Frustrations of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala et al By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo
May 9, 2013
Rudolf Okonkwo, a columnist on Sahareporters, comments on NOI’s keynote speech at the 5th Annual African Business Conference at Harvard Business School in February of 2013.
Negative
Clarifying Nigeria’s Debt Position By Dr. Okonjo-Iweala
June 7, 2013
NOI’s release in response to misinformation and misconception in the public debate on Nigeria’s debt.
Indifferent
Full Transcript Of My Presentation At The Ministerial Platform By Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Jun 16, 2013
Transcript of NOI’s speech at the Ministerial Platform on Monday, June 11, 2013.
Indifferent
Minister Ngozi Iweala And The Turtle By Prince Charles Dickson
Jun 24, 2013
The writer takes a swipe at NOI’s figure over economic growth. He holds that those numbers are nothing but a publicity stunt.
Negative
EXCLUSIVE: Okonjo-Iweala opens up, says Nigeria economy in danger
Jun 14, 2013
The story claims that NOI painted a gloomy picture of the economy contrary to what she said in her speech at the Ministerial Platform.
Negative
SR Speaks: Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s Economy of Lies
July 1, 2013
SaharaReporters responds to NOI’s spokesman’s rejoinder in an unsavoury manner.
Negative
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala storms Dr. Damages show with a piece of the National Cake
July 7, 2013
A parody of NOI’s presentation at the Ministerial Platform sandwiched with some unsavoury comments.
Negative
Don’t Be Deceived By Okonjo-Iweala; Economic Growth Stopped In 1970s – Dr. Muttaka
July 7, 2013
In an interview, Dr. Muhammad Usman Muttaka, the Head of Economics Department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria described the reported growth of Nigeria’s economy as a “paper growth”.
Negative
Nigeria Rated 8th Most Corrupt Nation- PM NEWS, Lagos
July 11, 2013
In a story that has nothing to do with the person of NOI, SR prominently features her picture in this report that Nigeria is now rated the 8th most corrupt nation in the world.
Negative
Nigeria’s Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala Forced THISDAY Publisher To Sack Editor
Sept 10, 2013
SaharaReporters alleges that NOI masterminded the sack of the Thisday’s Saturday editor, Lawrence Ani.
Negative
10 Reasons Why Mr. President Should Sack The Minister Of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke By Comrade Timi Frank
Sept 3, 2014
Comrade Timi Frank itemised ten reasons why the Minister of Petroleum must be shown the exit door by President Jonathan. The article alludes to a statement credited to the Minister of Finance.
Indifferent
LECTURE: Privatization Is A Looting Agenda; Obasanjo, Okonjo-Iweala Are Liars-Prof. Omotoye Olorode
Sept 7, 2013
In a long public lecture, one Professor Omotoye Olorode paints a dismal picture of the Nigerian economy, making mockery of The Finance Minister’s efforts.
Negative
Concerned Federation Accounts Members Lambast Federal Government, Okonjo-Iweala Over Mismanagement