By Muazu Muazu
Let me preface this piece by asking another question. Is Zango symbolizing Nigerian journalism?
Well, of greater concern, as a member of the media, l have never been as petrified, disoriented and overwhelmed as I was.
I was devastated that the Police was clearly treating an investigative journalist as an afterthought, choosing to silence his revelations as a way of avoiding their responsibility altogether.
Nasir Salisu Zango is many things to different people.
Perhaps, he is probably one of the most misunderstood investigative reporters in Northern Nigeria.
His foes from the four corners cast him in the picture of a ‘controversial’ journalist and the uncritical public readily contains this cheap political blackmail.
Nasir Zango could not have come at a better time than this, as he is a compilation and representation of a journalist of humble origin with dedication, passion and alacrity.
Zango is a journalist who does not associate with beginners, has nose for the news as well as the ability to identify events that will make a good news stories.
His stories through a popular program called “In Da Ranka” are compelling and always put his listeners on latitude of acceptance due his mastery in narration. He is really a narrator.
Zango, who presents his program with a faint posh Hausa accent, is only concerned with presenting and channeling societal problems, lamenting society’s grievances, transmitting information, thoughts and opinions through Freedom Radio to a large number of audiences.
The fear of Zango has led to resolving many many issues. That fear prevents swindler’s activities, crimes to mention few in Kano.
His mouth thing brings a lot of successes to advertisers and many businesses in Kano and beyond.
“In Da Ranka” is a program with thousands of audiences from different callings. It seems to be leading among others with varying degrees.
The fact is that the nature of media news coverage in Nigeria is episodic and the mass media are noted for their usual high incidence of news turn-overs without appropriate follow up and investigative journalism that could assist government and policy makers to get to the base of many issues.
The “In Da Ranka” program in spite of its shortcomings has been serving a ‘watchdog’ function for the society.
The function here means to make sure of accountability, transparency, good policing, good governance and rule of law.
However, news stories are mostly smoke and mirrors according to many communication experts. So, the success of routines displacement depends largely on creating a convincing illusion.
Using a classical technique in magical communication, one could borrow from the police and say some stories produced by “In Da Ranka” might not pass objectivity and Integrity tests let alone other major ethical concerns in journalism.
Certainly, “In Da Ranka” had a chance to enjoy such recognition. But, there is need for improvement in some its reportage.
For Zango, he must be credited for his untiring contributions to the development of journalism.
These are frameworks within which to understand Nasiru Salisu Zango as a potential investigative journalist.
