A veteran journalist and former governorship aspirant, under the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, Dare Babarinsa, has defended Nigeria’s informal power rotation arrangement between the North and South, predicting that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 and shift back to the South in 2039.
Babarinsa, the Chairman of Gaskia Media Limited, GML, argued that although the turn-by-turn political arrangement may not always produce the best candidate, it remains a necessary compromise for maintaining national stability, political balance and unity.
He made this position known recently while delivering a public lecture to mark the 60th anniversary of the Oyo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to him, Nigeria must sustain the power-sharing arrangement until future generations can develop a better political structure.
Babarinsa explained that the arrangement became necessary following the political developments surrounding the death of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and the death of Chief Moshood Abiola in 1998, which influenced consultations ahead of the 1999 transition to civilian rule.
Babarinsa also celebrated Ibadan’s historic contribution to Nigerian journalism, recalling the influence of newspapers such as the Nigerian Tribune and Daily Sketch and the contributions of prominent journalists.
He particularly highlighted the roles of Felix Adenaike, Segun Osoba and Peter Ajayi, whom he described as the Three Musketeers of Nigerian journalism.
Turning to the challenges facing the media industry, Babarinsa who is also the Managing Director of GML warned that traditional media organisations were struggling with declining newspaper readership, poor revenue and competition from digital platforms.
Then Editor-in-Chief of The Westerner Magazine observed that although established newspapers had embraced online publishing, their digital presence had not translated into improved financial strength.
He urged media organisations to reinvent their operations and adapt to changing audience preferences, warning that the future of journalism depended on their ability to respond to technological developments.
Quoting a popular expression, he declared: “Adapt or Die!”
The media executive also reminded journalists of their sacrifices during Nigeria’s struggle against military dictatorship, noting that many suffered imprisonment and exile, while some paid the supreme price in the fight for democracy.
He urged journalists to protect democratic institutions, promote national stability and use their platforms as marketplaces of ideas for national development.
While emphasising that facts must remain sacred, he maintained that journalists should not shy away from responsible advocacy on issues affecting the public good.
On the future of the profession, Babarinsa called for greater involvement of young people and women in journalism, stressing that the next generation must be empowered to drive innovation and strengthen media practice.
He noted that young journalists had historically played significant roles in the development of the Nigerian media industry and urged media organisations to create opportunities for emerging professionals to assume leadership responsibilities.
He expressed optimism that despite the economic difficulties confronting traditional media, the continued interest of young and educated Nigerians in journalism offered hope for the profession’s future.
