International records / OpenAlex research

The Press, Military Coups, and the Nigerian Polity: A Historical Perspective

The press in Nigeria has remained one of the most vilified, debated, and acclaimed institutions in recent time. Some have commended it for its tenacity and doggedness especially in the struggle against colonialism and military misrule. Others have condemned it for irresponsible, reckless, and sensational journalism. This paper examined the role of the press in military coups in Nigeria. It found that the press played a strategic and significant role before, during, and after military coups. Before the coup, the press serves as a “barometer” by which the performance of the government of the day…